INCUMBENT: “Neil” Riser (Republican)

DESCRIPTION: Senate District 32 is a district that is anchored in northeast Louisiana but actually includes all or parts of nine parishes (all of Catahoula, Columbia, Franklin, and LaSalle; and parts of Avoyelles, Concordia, Ouachita, Rapides, and West Feliciana) from north Louisiana all the way to the Florida Parishes. This is a district that is spread out enough to be in three different media markets simultaneously (Monroe, Alexandria, and Baton Rouge).

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 73% Republican

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: While Senate District 32 appears on the surface to be a rural north Louisiana district, it actually contains some of the suburban and exurban fringe of Monroe, Alexandria, and Baton Rouge, as well as some Cajun influenced portions of Avoyelles Parish. This is a district that for years supported Republicans in statewide contests, while preferring Democrats in legislative and local elections. From 1995 to 2007, (then) Democrat Noble Ellington represented the district, but term limits put an end to his Senate tenure in 2008. In the race to succeed him, this was one of several seriously contested Senate races in North Louisiana that the Republicans picked up that year as they were winning the governorship. The Democrats had a strong candidate: former state representative/Wildlife and Fisheries secretary Bryant Hammett, while Republicans ran funeral home owner Neil Riser, who led 49-41% in the primary and won in the runoff with 55%. Senator Riser was unopposed in 2011, and is allowed to serve one more term. He shouldn’t have re-election troubles this year, as Mitt Romney and Bill Cassidy both carried the district with 76 and 75%, respectively.