INCUMBENT: Scott Simon (Republican)

DESCRIPTION: House District 74 is located in the Florida Parishes and includes the northern portions of Saint Tammany Parish, the northeast portion of Tangipahoa Parish, and the westernmost part of Washington Parish west of the Bogue Chitto River. This is a district that has seen the effects of suburbanization, particularly in and around Abita Springs in Saint Tammany Parish.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 76% Republican

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: House District 74 is a good representation of political changes that occurred in the Florida Parishes as long ago as the 1990s, as districts like this were where Republicans made major gains in the legislature 1995 as they were winning the governorship. But while this district typically supported Republicans in contested statewide races, it voted Democratic in state house races until 1999, although a  Republican seriously contested this seat in 1995 and received 42% of the vote. When the Democratic incumbent retired in 1999, Republican “Mike” Strain was elected in the primary with 69% of the vote against two Republicans. He was unopposed in 2003, and in 2007, he successfully ran for Commissioner of Agriculture, defeating longtime Democratic incumbent “Bob” Odom. In the open seat race to succeed Rep. Strain, Republican Scott Simon was elected in the primary with 49% of the vote when his runoff opponent withdrew. He was unopposed in 2011, and is allowed to serve one more term. Given that this is a solidly Republican district now (Mitt Romney received 80% of the vote, and Bill Cassidy got 75%), Rep. Simon shouldn’t have re-election problems.