INCUMBENT: Robert Billiot (Democrat)

DESCRIPTION: House District 83 is located in the Westbank of Jefferson Parish and includes Westwego and surrounding towns (Avondale, Bridge City, and Waggaman) between Westwego and the Saint Charles Parish line.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 71% Democratic

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: House District 83 has long been a Democratic stronghold in Jefferson Parish, as its blue collar workers, as well as a growing black population, have strong Democratic loyalties. The Democratic tendencies were reinforced in 2011 when the district was reconfigured to have a black voting majority (55% when the lines were drawn, 57% today). This is also a district that has had very steady legislative representation. From 1971 (when the district was first created), until 2007 (when term limits forced him to run successfully for an open state senate seat), the district was represented by then Democrat John Alario, who has the rare distinction of serving both as House Speaker and Senate President. In his 36 year tenure, he rarely was opposed, and when he was, he won overwhelmingly. When he vacated the seat in 2007, Republicans came surprisingly close to winning the seat in the runoff, and their candidate (who was elected district judge in 2014) even won about 20% of the black vote. The winner in that race was Democrat Robert Billiot, who then received a more favorable district from a partisan perspective, although he received a black opponent in 2011 and was only re-elected with 57% of the vote. While Rep. Billiot can serve one more term, the district’s black majority is something he needs to be mindful of, as evidenced by his less than overwhelming re-election margin in a district that gave Barack Obama 69% and Mary Landrieu 77% of the vote.