INCUMBENT: Walt Leger III (Democrat)

DESCRIPTION: House District 91 is located in New Orleans and includes a mixture of upper and lower income neighborhoods between the Jefferson Parish line and the Mississippi River.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 87% Democratic

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the demographics of New Orleans noticeably changed: its black population either left the state, or (more often) moved across the parish line into Jefferson or Saint Bernard Parishes, or elsewhere in Louisiana. As this was happening, New Orleans saw an influx of more creative minded people desiring to live in an urban environment and determined to rebuild the city. While this influx has occurred throughout much of the core of the city, it was apparent in District 91, which contains a mixture of neighborhoods all over the income spectrum. A decade ago (i.e., before Katrina hit), the district had a 70-24% black majority, which was diluted to 64-30% black in 2010. Today, that demographic mixture is 60-34% black, as the white voter population has since 2004 increased 12%, while 32% of the black voter population present in 2004 no longer resides in the district. These demographic changes have not impacted the district’s political complexion at all, as this remains a heavily Democratic district. The changes have, however, made it possible for white candidates with appeal to the black voter demographic to win. Before 2007, black Democrats had been victorious here for decades, but by the 2007 election, white Democrat Walt Leger III defeated a black opponent in the runoff with 65%, getting over 80% of the white vote as well as 50% of the black vote. He was unopposed in 2011, and is allowed to serve one more term. He should not have re-election problems this fall unless a credible black candidate decides to oppose him.