INCUMBENT: “Truck” Gisclair (Democrat)

DESCRIPTION: Given the swampy terrain of south Louisiana, there are several House districts where the swampy landmass of the district makes the districts seem deceptively large. House District 54 is one of those districts, as it is contained in southern Lafourche Parish (generally all territory south of US Highway 90), with nearly all of its population along either side of Bayou Lafourche. Along one of the sides of the bayou is LA 1, which is known as the “longest Main Street in America.” As the district travels along either side of the bayou, it follows LA 1 until its terminus in Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 70% Republican

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: Lafourche Parish (particularly its more rural precincts) was once solidly Democratic territory in all elections, although its politics steadily moved towards the Republican Party in the last decade, with more pronounced political changes ocurring after the 2010 BP oil spill. Legislatively, this has been one of the most competitive districts in the state: between the 1983 and 2011 election cycles, no one has received more than 61% of the district vote. In fact, unlike most formerly Demcoratic districts in South Louisiana, a Republican was actually elected here from 1999 to 2007, although when he retired that year, Democrat “Truck” Gisclair was elected with 51% of the vote in 2007 against a former legislator who changed to the Republican Party for the race. Against an Independent, he was re-elected with 59% of the vote. Rep. Gisclair is allowed to seek one more term, but given the district’s turn towards the Republicans (Romney got 82%, while 66% voted for Cassidy),  Republicans are likely to contest this seat, which is a “must hold” for the Democrats if they want to maintain a presence in the House.