INCUMBENT: Sherri Buffington (Republican)

DESCRIPTION: Senate District 38 is located in northwest Louisiana and contains all of DeSoto and the southern portions of Caddo Parish. This district is a mixture of rural, suburban, and urban neighborhoods.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 57% Republican

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: Senate District 38 is a district that best embodies the varied demography of northwest Louisiana, as it contains rural voters, affluent and middle income suburban neighborhoods, and a growing black population (31% when the district lines were last redrawn, 35% today). And while this district almost always votes Republican in statewide elections, it’s not by overwhelming margins (59% for Romney and 56% for Cassidy). Accordingly, this district has had competitive races for years, given its varied demography. The district’s current senator is Republican Sherri Buffington, who was elected in 2003 when her predecessor (and former boss) retired. Shen then faced stiff challenges both in 2007 and 2011 from more conservative Republicans and was re-elected with 53 and 57% of the vote. She is term limited, and there will definitely be a compeititve race to succed her. Given the district’s varied demography, Republicans are favored to hold the seat, but there is a black and rural Democratic voter base here that has since 1987 played a large part in determining the winner.