Louisiana's 8th congressional district was a congressional district which was created in 1913 and eliminated in 1993 after

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

lost its eighth congressional seat in the 1990 U. S. census. For its entire existence, it was based in

Alexandria Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...

and included much of the north-central part of the state. Beginning in 1972, the district was redrawn at the direction of

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Edwin Edwards Edwin Washington Edwards (August 7, 1927 – July 12, 2021) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1965 to 1972 and as the 50th governor of Louisiana for four terms (1972–1980, 1984–1988, and 1992–1996 ...

to take in liberal precincts in northern

Baton Rouge Baton Rouge ( ; , ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It had a population of 227,470 at the 2020 United States census, making it List of municipalities in Louisiana, Louisiana's second-m ...

, the northern

Florida Parishes The Florida Parishes, on the east side of the Mississippi River—an area also known as the Northshore or Northlake region—are eight parishes in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The Florida Parishes were part of what ...

, and the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

corridor between Baton Rouge and

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

--making Alexandria the district's northern boundary--in order to aid the return to Congress of Gillis Long. It also moved LaSalle Parish, the home of conservative incumbent

Speedy Long Speedy Oteria Long (June 16, 1928 – October 5, 2006) was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 8th congressional district from January 3, 1965, until January 3, 1973. He was a member of ...

, who defeated Gillis Long in 1964, into the

5th district District 5, 5 District or 5th District may refer to: Europe * District 5 (Zürich) * District 5, Düsseldorf * V District, Turku * Districts of Malta#District 5, District 5, an electoral district of Malta * Districts of Malta#District 5 2, Distric ...

. The last representative for the 8th district was Clyde Holloway, a Republican from Forest Hill in rural

Rapides Parish Rapides Parish () () is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 130,023. The parish seat and largest city is Alexandria, which developed along the Red River of the South. ''Rapides'' is th ...

first elected in 1986. In each of his three elections, he defeated a Black Democratic challenger, the last being future Representative

Cleo Fields Cleo C. Fields (born November 22, 1962) is an American attorney and politician who serves in the United States House of Representatives, currently representing . He previously represented from 1993 to 1997 and ran unsuccessfully for governor of L ...

. In 1992, Holloway's home was drawn into the 6th district when Louisiana lost a House seat following the 1990 census, and he was defeated by fellow Republican Richard Baker, who was first elected to the House at the same time as Holloway.

List of members representing the district

References

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Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
{{DEFAULTSORT:Louisiana's 8th Congressional District 08 Former congressional districts of the United States 1913 establishments in Louisiana 1993 disestablishments in Louisiana Constituencies established in 1913 Constituencies disestablished in 1993