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Line 42: − + − + − + − + − + + − Party chairman Roger Villere, Jr., declared a statewide day of mourning and remembrance for Thibodaux, whom Villere described as: "a Republican pioneer in Acadiana". I ask all Louisiana citizens to join me in honoring Dr. David Thibodaux and the life he devoted to making Louisiana a better place. I ask all of you to keep David's family and friends in your prayers."+ − − ===A "movement conservative"===
→Louisiana Republican pioneer
==Louisiana Republican pioneer==
==Louisiana Republican pioneer==
At the time of Thibodaux's death, Roger F. Villere, Jr., then the chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, heralded Thibodaux as a pioneer of the GOP in southwestern Louisiana. Disenfranchised with the controlling Democratic Party due to widespread corruption throughout the state in the 1970s and 1980s, Thibodaux sought to enhance the position of Louisiana's Republican Party to restore a viable two-party system to his state. He served as a delegate to the 1988 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in New Orleans, and was elected to the Republican State Central Committee, where, as a member of The Louisiana Coalition against Racism and Nazism, he rallied against [[David Duke]]'s 1991 gubernatorial campaign.
At the time of Thibodaux's death, Roger F. Villere, Jr., then the chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, heralded Thibodaux as a pioneer of the GOP in southwestern Louisiana. Disenfranchised with the controlling Democratic Party due to widespread corruption throughout the state in the 1970s and 1980s, Thibodaux sought to enhance the position of Louisiana's Republican Party to restore a viable two-party system to his state. He served as a delegate to the 1988 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in New Orleans, and was elected to the Republican State Central Committee, where, as a member of The Louisiana Coalition against Racism and Nazism, he rallied against [[David Duke]]'s 1991 gubernatorial campaign against Edwin Edwards.
In 1990, Thibodaux ran for the U.S. House. The 7th district had never been held by a Republican and was a known Democratic stronghold, famously held by [[Edwin Edwards]] from 1965 to 1972, before Edwards was elected to his first of four terms as [[governor]]. Edwards supported his protégé, [[John Breaux]], to run as his successor. Breaux held the seat until 1986 before being elected to the U.S. Senate for the first of three termss. Breaux then supported Jimmy Hayes of Lafayette, who won the seat as his successor in 1986. In 1990, Thibodaux lost his bid to the two-term incumbent Hayes. Thibodaux received almost 70,000 votes, nearly 40 percent of the vote.
In 1990, Thibodaux ran for the U.S. House. The 7th district had never been held by a Republican and was a known Democratic stronghold, famously held by [[Edwin Edwards]] from 1965 to 1972, before Edwards was elected to his first of four terms as [[governor]]. Edwards supported his protégé, [[John Breaux]], to run as his successor. Breaux held the seat until 1986 before being elected to the U.S. Senate for the first of three termss. Breaux then supported Jimmy Hayes of Lafayette, who won the seat as his successor in 1986. In 1990, Thibodaux lost his bid to the two-term incumbent Hayes. Thibodaux received almost 70,000 votes, nearly 40 percent of the vote.
In 1996, Thibodaux launched a third campaign for the 7th District seat. Hayes switched to Republican affiliation and vacated his House seat to seek the open U.S. Senate position in 1996. With the 7th congressional seat open, Thibodaux saw the election as the best opportunity for a Republican to carry the district for the first time. Under the nonpartisan blanket primary, Thibodaux lost a spot in the [[general election]] against Democrat Christopher J. "Chris" John by only twelve votes. On election night, Thibodaux was projected as finishing in second place, ensuring a spot in the general election, over 200 votes ahead of the third-place finisher Democrat Hunter Lundy. However, after a week of ballot recounts, John led with 45,404 ballots (26 percent). Lundy trailed with 38,605 votes (22 percent), just 12 votes ahead of Thibodaux's 38,593 votes (also 22 percent). While Thibodaux was the endorsed Republican candidate, three other Republican candidates campaigned as well. The presence of the three other Republicans, Jim Slatten, Peter Anthony Vidrine (born November 1957) of Ville Platte in Evangeline Parish, and Charles "Charlie" Buckels, with a total of 25,840 votes (15 percent), cost Thibodaux an opportunity to enter a face-to-face showdown with the Democrat Chris John in the general election. Vidrine ran unsuccessfully for the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 38 in 2011 and subsequently joined the [[Constitution Party]].
In 1996, Thibodaux launched a third campaign for the 7th District seat. Hayes switched to Republican affiliation and vacated his House seat to seek the open U.S. Senate position in 1996. With the 7th congressional seat open, Thibodaux saw the election as the best opportunity for a Republican to carry the district for the first time. Under the nonpartisan blanket primary, Thibodaux lost a spot in the [[general election]] against Democrat Christopher J. "Chris" John by only twelve votes. On election night, Thibodaux was projected as finishing in second place, ensuring a spot in the general election, over 200 votes ahead of the third-place finisher Democrat Hunter Lundy. However, after a week of ballot recounts, John led with 45,404 ballots (26 percent). Lundy trailed with 38,605 votes (22 percent), just 12 votes ahead of Thibodaux's 38,593 votes (also 22 percent). While Thibodaux was the endorsed Republican candidate, three other Republican candidates campaigned as well. The presence of the three other Republicans, Jim Slatten, Peter Anthony Vidrine (born November 1957) of Ville Platte in Evangeline Parish, and Charles "Charlie" Buckels, with a total of 25,840 votes (15 percent), cost Thibodaux an opportunity to enter a face-to-face showdown with the Democrat Chris John in the general election. Vidrine ran unsuccessfully for the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 38 in 2011 and subsequently joined the [[Constitution Party]].
With only twelve votes separating Thibodaux from a spot in the runoff, many urged Thibodaux to challenge the election results amid widespread reports of irregularities and election fraud across the state. In Louisiana's election for U.S. Senate that year, Republican [[Woody Jenkins]] contested the results of his narrow loss to Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] claiming election fraud, including ballot tampering, voter fraud, and illegal busing in precincts statewide, including those in the 7th District. Jenkins brought his challenge to the U.S. Senate, arguing for a new election in front of the Senate Rules Committee. After a 10-month investigation revealed that fraud had occurred, the committee voted 8–7 along party lines to uphold the election results. Thibodaux chose not to pursue his own challenge of the results of the House race. Chris John went on to defeat Hunter Lundy in the general election and held the seat until he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, when he was defeated by the Republican [[David Vitter]].
With only twelve votes separating Thibodaux from a spot in the runoff, many urged Thibodaux to challenge the election results amid widespread reports of irregularities and election fraud across the state. In Louisiana's election for U.S. Senate that year, Republican [[Woody Jenkins]] contested the results of his narrow loss to Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] claiming election fraud, including ballot tampering, voter fraud, and illegal busing in precincts statewide, including those in the 7th District. Jenkins brought his challenge to the U.S. Senate, arguing for a new election in front of the Senate Rules Committee. After a 10-month investigation revealed that fraud had occurred, the committee voted 8–7 along party lines to uphold the election results. Thibodaux chose not to pursue his own challenge of the results of the House race. Chris John went on to defeat Hunter Lundy in the general election and held the seat until he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, when he was defeated by the Republican [[David Vitter]].
When John vacated the seat, Thibodaux decided to run again. However, when a recently retired [[physician]], Charles Boustany, Jr., a longtime friend and supporter of Thibodaux in previous elections, decided to enter the race, the Republican party gave Boustany the endorsement. In the general election, Thibodaux backed Boustany, who then defeated state Senator Willie Mount of [[Lake Charles]] with 55 percent of the vote, and became the first Republican elected to represent Louisiana's 7th District, which was disbaned after the 2010 census.
When John vacated the seat, Thibodaux decided to run again. However, when a recently retired [[physician]], Charles Boustany, Jr., a longtime friend and supporter of Thibodaux in previous elections, decided to enter the race, the Republican party gave Boustany the endorsement. In the general election, Thibodaux backed Boustany, who then defeated state Senator Willie Mount of [[Lake Charles]] with 55 percent of the vote, and became the first Republican elected to represent Louisiana's 7th District, which was disbaned after the 2010 census.
Boustany called Thibodaux's death "a great loss for the people of Lafayette Parish, particularly for those of us who were proud to call him a friend. He will always be remembered for his passionate and relentless pursuit of improving public education for our communities in Lafayette Parish."
Boustany called Thibodaux's death "a great loss for the people of Lafayette Parish, particularly for those of us who were proud to call him a friend. He will always be remembered for his passionate and relentless pursuit of improving public education for our communities in Lafayette Parish."
Party chairman Roger Villere, Jr., declared a statewide day of mourning and remembrance for Thibodaux, whom Villere described as: "a Republican pioneer in Acadiana". I ask all Louisiana citizens to join me in honoring Dr. David Thibodaux and the life he devoted to making Louisiana a better place. I ask all of you to keep David's family and friends in your prayers."
===Thibodaux as a "movement conservative"===
Bill Decker of the ''Lafayette Daily Advertiser'' described Thibodaux, accordingly:
Bill Decker of the ''Lafayette Daily Advertiser'' described Thibodaux, accordingly: