INCUMBENT: Joseph Bouie (Democrat)

DESCRIPTION: House District 97 is located in New Orleans and is centered in Gentilly, although it also takes in parts of Midcity.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 91% Democratic

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: House District 97 is actually the combination of two existing districts (House Districts 96 and 97) during the 2011 reapportionment, and a lot of carnage was avoided that year when the incumbent for District 96 (Juan Lafonta) decided against seeking re-election. The history of pre and post reapportionment District 97 is rather interesting, because its last three incumbents have all used this district as a steppingstone for another office. The most recent “promotion” occurred when Jared Brosett, who was elected in a 2009 special election, was elected to the New Orleans City Council in early 2014. His successor was Joseph Bouie, who curiously ran against Brosett in that same City Council race. Bouie was then elected without opposition in the 2014 special election, and is allowed to serve three more terms. Given the stability of the representation the district has had, Rep. Bouie is probably a safe bet for re-election in this solidly Democratic district (Obama got 90% of the vote, and 93% supported Mary Landrieu last year); the only question for him is whether he will also seek another office as his three predecessors have.