INCUMBENT: Dalton Honore (Democrat)

DESCRIPTION: House District 63 is located in the northern portion of East Baton Rouge Parish and includes Southern University, Metro Airport, Baker, and all of Zachary south of LA 64/Church Street. This is a district that is a mixture of inner city neighborhoods, industry (there are several petrochemical plants located along US 61 north of the airport), and (in Zachary, at least) fast growing suburbs.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 79% Democratic

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: In Baton Rouge, the black communities were historically located along the Mississippi River in one of two areas: north of the ExxonMobil refinery in an area called Scotlandville, and between downtown and LSU along Highland Road. Accordingly, these areas were among the first in Baton Rouge to elect black legislators to the state House when single-member districts were created in 1971. District 63 is anchored in historically black Scotlandville in north Baton Rouge, although it over the years has expanded northwards to include the suburbs of Baker and Zachary (which both got their own school districts over a decade ago). While the district has a 77% black voter registration and is solidly Democratic, it was 65% black a decade ago, and this trend is indicative of demographic changes that have occurred in neighborhoods around the airport and in Baker and Zachary. Politically, the district has had steady representation, with only five black Democrats’ representing it since 1971, two of whom (Dick Turnley and “Kip” Holden) got elected to other offices. This seat last opened up in 2010, and in that special election race, retired sheriff’s deputy Dalton Honore was elected in the runoff with 67%. He was then re-elected in 2011 with 62%. While he is allowed to serve two more terms, he is vacating this seat to run for an open state senate seat. Rep. Honore’s successor will almost certainly be another black Democrat.