Changes

==2006 special election==

==2006 special election==

In the special election, Donelon faced a fellow Democrat-turned-Republican in state Senator James David Cain of Dry Creek. Cain questioned Donelon's commitment to the Republican Party because of Donelon's acceptance of the staff appointment from the Democrat Wooley. Yet, Donelon has been a registered Republican for twenty years longer than Cain. Cain's opponents said that he violated [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s "Eleventh Commandment": "Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican." Cain's state Senate term expired on January 14, 2008.

In the special election, Donelon faced a fellow Democrat-turned-Republican with [[populist]] roots, state Senator James David Cain of Dry Creek, whose legislature term expired on January 14, 2008. In the 2006 campaign, Cain questioned Donelon's commitment to the Republican Party because of Donelon's acceptance of the staff appointment from the Democrat Wooley. Yet, Donelon has been a registered Republican for twenty years longer than Cain. Cain's opponents said that he violated [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s "Eleventh Commandment": "Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican."

Cain unveiled a five-point plan to bring "integrity, efficiency, and accountability" to the insurance office. He accused Donelon, with whom he had served in the state House, of having billed the state $50 per hour to attend birthday and retirement parties as well as fundraising galas. He charged that Donelon was not working with insurance companies, such as Allstate, which were threatening to leave Louisiana because of the lack of return. Cain won high-powered endorsements, including former Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], Republican financier Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger, and [[Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]. He also picked up the support of a third candidate, DeAnne Henke of Lafayette, who withdrew prior to the primary. A fundraiser was held for Cain at Squire Creek Country Club in Lincoln Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamesdavidcain.com/download/squirecreek_invite.pdf|title=Squire Creek|publisher=jamesdavidcain.com|date=June 27, 2006|accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>

Cain unveiled a five-point plan to bring "integrity, efficiency, and accountability" to the insurance office. He accused Donelon, with whom he had served in the state House, of having billed the state $50 per hour to attend birthday and retirement parties as well as fundraising galas. He charged that Donelon was not working with insurance companies, such as Allstate, which were threatening to leave Louisiana because of the lack of return. Cain won high-powered endorsements, including former Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], Republican financier Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger, and [[Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]. He also picked up the support of a third candidate, DeAnne Henke of Lafayette, who withdrew prior to the primary. A fundraiser was held for Cain at Squire Creek Country Club in Lincoln Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamesdavidcain.com/download/squirecreek_invite.pdf|title=Squire Creek|publisher=jamesdavidcain.com|date=June 27, 2006|accessdate=August 5, 201; no longer on-line.}}</ref>

In his term as chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, Cain criticized many of the policies of the Wooley administration, which Donelon had continued. Cain questioned the investigations by the Department of Insurance conducted against companies that tried to avoid reimbursing customers. He also attacked Donelon in the post-storm era, most notably over the continued operations of the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.<ref name=asayre>{{cite web|url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2006/09/25/72771.htm|title=Close Race Expected in Commissioner Face off in La.|publishr=Insurancejournal.com|author=Alan Sayre|author=September 25, 2006|accessdate=August 15, 2019}}</ref> Donelon accused Cain of improperly taking campaign funding from a bail bondsman in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] involved in a pyramid scheme that defrauded dozens of residents.<ref name=asayre/>

 

In his term as chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, Cain criticized many of the policies of the Wooley administration, which Donelon had continued. Cain decried as "too little, too late" investigations by the Department of Insurance conducted against companies that tried to avoid reimbursing customers. He also attacked Donelon in the post-storm era, most notably over the continued operations of the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

In the special election in 2006, Donelon  polled 50.1 percent of the ballots cast in a low-turnout contest. His 283,316 votes were 847 more than the tabulations of his two opponents combined. Republican state Senator James David Cain of Sabine Parish polled 222,414 (39 percent); S. B. A. Zaitoon of the [[Libertarian Party]], received 60,094 votes (11 percent). There was no Democrat in the special election. Donelon ran strongest in urban areas; Cain, in rural parishes and small towns.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  September 30, 2006.</ref>

In the special election in 2006, Donelon  polled 50.1 percent of the ballots cast in a low-turnout contest. His 283,316 votes were 847 more than the tabulations of his two opponents combined. Republican state Senator James David Cain of Sabine Parish polled 222,414 (39 percent); S. B. A. Zaitoon of the [[Libertarian Party]], received 60,094 votes (11 percent). There was no Democrat in the special election. Donelon ran strongest in urban areas; Cain, in rural parishes and small towns.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  September 30, 2006.</ref>