| | Walker's opponent was Speedy Oteria Long (1927-2006), an [[attorney]] and a former state senator from Jena in LaSalle Parish. Considered the most [[conservative]] of the Longs, Speedy had unseated his cousin, Gillis William Long (1923-1985) of Alexandria, in the Democratic primary in the summer of 1964. Walker's showing, a half percent better than Treen received in his race against the Democrat Thomas Hale Boggs, Sr. (1914-1972), may have been a reflection of continuing Long factional divisions, which had appeared in 1963 in the gubernatorial primary. In that campaign, U.S. Representative Gillis Long was endorsed by U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]], the son of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], and the successful opponent, [[John J. McKeithen]], carried the backing of Blanche Beulah Revere Long (1902-1998), Earl Long's politically influential widow. Goldwater was an easy winner in Louisiana and polled large majorities in the northern half of the state prior to passage of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], which brought forth the registration of large numbers of [[African American]]s. Goldwater provided a boost to Walker but insufficient help to defeat a Long candidate.<ref>[[Bill Dodd]], "Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics'', [[Baton Rouge]]: Claitor's Publishing, 1991.</ref> | | Walker's opponent was Speedy Oteria Long (1927-2006), an [[attorney]] and a former state senator from Jena in LaSalle Parish. Considered the most [[conservative]] of the Longs, Speedy had unseated his cousin, Gillis William Long (1923-1985) of Alexandria, in the Democratic primary in the summer of 1964. Walker's showing, a half percent better than Treen received in his race against the Democrat Thomas Hale Boggs, Sr. (1914-1972), may have been a reflection of continuing Long factional divisions, which had appeared in 1963 in the gubernatorial primary. In that campaign, U.S. Representative Gillis Long was endorsed by U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]], the son of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], and the successful opponent, [[John J. McKeithen]], carried the backing of Blanche Beulah Revere Long (1902-1998), Earl Long's politically influential widow. Goldwater was an easy winner in Louisiana and polled large majorities in the northern half of the state prior to passage of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], which brought forth the registration of large numbers of [[African American]]s. Goldwater provided a boost to Walker but insufficient help to defeat a Long candidate.<ref>[[Bill Dodd]], "Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics'', [[Baton Rouge]]: Claitor's Publishing, 1991.</ref> |
| − | Long prevailed, 33,250 votes (54.5 percent) to Walker's 27,735 (45.5 percent). Walker carried only Rapides Parish but polled at least 40 percent in Sabine, Natchitoches, Grant, LaSalle, and Winn parishes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, U.S. Congress, November 3, 1964.</ref> | + | Speedy Long prevailed in the House contest, 33,250 votes (54.5 percent) to Walker's 27,735 (45.5 percent). Walker carried only Rapides Parish but polled at least 40 percent in Sabine, Natchitoches, Grant, LaSalle, and Winn parishes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, U.S. Congress, November 3, 1964.</ref> |