INCUMBENT: Terry Landry (Democrat)

DESCRIPTION: House District 96 is a district that generally follows Bayou Teche from Breaux Bridge to New Iberia, picking up black neighborhoods in Saint Martin, Lafayette, and Iberia Parishes. This is a district that was newly created after the 2011 reapportionment that simultaneously reduced the numerical clout of the Orleans Parish delegation and preserved the number of black majority districts statewide as required by the Voting Rights Act.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 66% Democratic

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: House District 96 until the 2011 election cycle was located in New Orleans and was a black majority district. When it was relocated to Acadiana in 2011, it was drawn to elect a black legislator, and this is what happened, although the victor (Democrat Terry Landry) received spirited competition both in the primary and the runoff from the white Saint Martinville mayor. In the end, voting went along racial lines, and Landry won the runoff with 55% of the vote, getting 88% of the black vote and 18% of the white vote – since 56% of the runoff electorate was black, he got what he needed (and then some) to win. He is allowed to serve two more terms, and is probably in good shape for re-election, given that this is a heavily Democratic district that pretty consistently gives Democrats 2:1 margins in most contested elections.