Changes

|spouse= (1) Divorced from Susan Mullins Couhig​

|spouse= (1) Divorced from Susan Mullins Couhig​

(2) Michelle "Missy" Aleman (married 2003)​<br>

(2) Michelle "Missy" Aleman (married 2003)​<br>

Children:<br>

'''Children'':<br>

Robert E. Couhig, III<br>​

Robert E. Couhig, III<br>​

Benjamin Couhig<br>

Benjamin Couhig<br>

Parents:<br>

'''Parents''':<br>

Robert E., Jr., and Marcelle Reese LeBlanc Couhig<br>

Robert E., Sr., and Marcelle Reese LeBlanc Couhig<br>

Relations:<br>

'''Relations''':<br>

Sam A. LeBlanc, III (half-brother)<br>​

Sam A. LeBlanc, III (half-brother)<br>​

Kevin H. Couhig (brother)<br>​

Kevin H. Couhig (brother)<br>​

Couhig raised some $200,000 (nearly 625,000 in 2019 dollars), a large amount at that time for a challenger in a difficult district. Lindy Boggs was the winner; she polled 45,091 votes (63.8 percent) to Couhig's 25,512 (36.2 percent). She was never seriously challenged in all of her congressional races between 1973 and 1988, when she won her last term. Couhig was actually among the stronger opponents that Boggs ever faced. Another candidate in the 1980 congressional race, Democrat Clyde F. Bel, Jr., of New Orleans, had served in the Louisiana House with Couhig's half-brother, Sam LeBlanc. Bel finished with less than 5 percent of the ballots cast.​

Couhig raised some $200,000 (nearly 625,000 in 2019 dollars), a large amount at that time for a challenger in a difficult district. Lindy Boggs was the winner; she polled 45,091 votes (63.8 percent) to Couhig's 25,512 (36.2 percent). She was never seriously challenged in all of her congressional races between 1973 and 1988, when she won her last term. Couhig was actually among the stronger opponents that Boggs ever faced. Another candidate in the 1980 congressional race, Democrat Clyde F. Bel, Jr., of New Orleans, had served in the Louisiana House with Couhig's half-brother, Sam LeBlanc. Bel finished with less than 5 percent of the ballots cast.​

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The 2nd congressional district did not support a Republican candidate for Congress until the [[general election]] held on December 6, 2008, when the [[Vietnam]]ese refugee, [[Joseph Cao]], unseated the scandal-plagued [[William J. Jefferson]], who had succeeded Mrs. Boggs in 1991. Cao, however, was quickly unseated in the 2010 general election by the Democrat .​

The 2nd congressional district did not support a Republican candidate for Congress until the [[general election]] held on December 6, 2008, when the [[Vietnam]]ese refugee, [[Joseph Cao]], unseated the scandal-plagued [[William J. Jefferson]], who had succeeded Mrs. Boggs in 1991. Cao, however, was quickly unseated in the 2010 general election by the African-American Democrat [[Cedric Richmond]].​

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Not long after his first congressional race, Couhig was the campaign manager for Republican State Representative Garey Forster, who represented the New Orleans French Quarter district from 1982 to 1997.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

Not long after his first congressional race, Couhig was the campaign manager for Republican State Representative Garey Forster, who represented the New Orleans French Quarter district from 1982 to 1997.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

===Second run for Congress, 1999===​

===Second run for Congress, 1999==​

 

Couhig ran for Congress again in the special election held on May 1, 1999, in the 1st congressional district to choose the successor to Bob Livingston, who resigned amid a sex scandal revealed when Livingston was slated to become [[Speaker]] of the House. He finished in fifth place with 5,149 votes (8 percent). Former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] was forced into a runoff for the seat with state Representative [[David Vitter]] who narrowly won the second round of balloting and held the seat from 1999 to 2005, when he became the state's first Republican U.S. senator since [[Reconstruction]]. Couhig was even overshadowed in the House race by the controversial Republican convert, [[David Duke]].​

Couhig ran for Congress again in the special election held on May 1, 1999, in the 1st congressional district to choose the successor to Bob Livingston, who resigned amid a sex scandal revealed when Livingston was slated to become [[Speaker]] of the House. He finished in fifth place with 5,149 votes (8 percent). Former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] was forced into a runoff for the seat with state Representative [[David Vitter]] who narrowly won the second round of balloting and held the seat from 1999 to 2005, when he became the state's first Republican U.S. senator since [[Reconstruction]]. Couhig was even overshadowed in the House race by the controversial Republican convert, [[David Duke]].​

 

Couhig said that he had expected Livingston to support him in 1999 in return for the help that Couhig had rendered to Livingston in the 1977 election. Couhig said that his weak showing may have been a reflection of his inability to convince voters how his vision differed from the other Republican candidates. He noted that he spent $500,000 (770,000 in 2019 dollars) of his own money on the race despite bleak prospects.​

Couhig said that he had expected Livingston to support him in 1999 in return for the help that Couhig had rendered to Livingston in the 1977 election. Couhig said that his weak showing may have been a reflection of his inability to convince voters how his vision differed from the other Republican candidates. He noted that he spent $500,000 (770,000 in 2019 dollars) of his own money on the race despite bleak prospects.​

 

===Run for mayor, 2006===​

===Run for mayor, 2006===​

In 2005, Greater New Orleans was devastated by [[Hurricane Katrina]] and related levee failures. The majority of the city was still in ruins and the majority of the population still living elsewhere in early 2006, for what many felt was the most important election in the city's history.​

In 2005, Greater New Orleans was devastated by [[Hurricane Katrina]] and related levee failures. The majority of the city was still in ruins and the majority of the population still living elsewhere in early 2006, for what many felt was the most important election in the city's history. Couhig and Peggy Wilson, a former member of the New Orleans City Council, were the two Republican candidates for mayor. His campaign started with television ads mocking the perceived leading candidates, [[Mitch Landrieu]], Ron Forman, and incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin. In televised debates prior to the nonpartisan blanket primary, Couhig's combative style attracted attention. MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] declared Couhig the "absolute winner" of the pre-primary debate.

 

Couhig and Peggy Wilson, a former member of the New Orleans City Council, were the two Republican candidates for mayor. His campaign started with television ads mocking the perceived leading candidates, [[Mitch Landrieu]], Ron Forman, and incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin. In televised debates prior to the nonpartisan blanket primary, Couhig's combative style attracted attention. MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] declared Couhig the "absolute winner" of the pre-primary debate. ​

Couhig said that New Orleans residents should accent "self-reliance" in the post-Katrina rebuilding, rather than a sense of "entitlement".  Couhig criticized Nagin for supposedly "sugar-coating" the city's woes. He claimed that Nagin was "reaping short-term political gains at the expense of the city's long-term best interests." Couhig said that his opponents were promoting a "fantasy" that the city can continue operating on a budget meant for nearly half a million people when fewer than half that many persons remained in New Orleans in the spring of 2006. Couhig said that the city could not sustain basic services in sparsely populated areas. He also chided Nagin for his use of the term "Chocolate City." He urged Nagin, who had supported the 2003 Republican gubernatorial candidate [[Bobby Jindal]] along with other Republican candidates, to "stop pandering for political gain." ​

Couhig said that New Orleans residents should accent "self-reliance" in the post-Katrina rebuilding, rather than a sense of "entitlement".  Couhig criticized Nagin for supposedly "sugar-coating" the city's woes. He claimed that Nagin was "reaping short-term political gains at the expense of the city's long-term best interests." Couhig said that his opponents were promoting a "fantasy" that the city can continue operating on a budget meant for nearly half a million people when fewer than half that many persons remained in New Orleans in the spring of 2006. Couhig said that the city could not sustain basic services in sparsely populated areas. He also chided Nagin for his use of the term "Chocolate City." He urged Nagin, who had supported the 2003 Republican gubernatorial candidate [[Bobby Jindal]] along with other Republican candidates, to "stop pandering for political gain." ​

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