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Considered a particularly observant political commentator, Treen coined the expression: "All things being equal, Cajuns vote for Cajuns."<ref name=cajuns>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=1739|title=Gen. [Russel] Honeré considering run for Senate|publisher=louisianaweekly.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009; no longer on-line.}}</ref>In most statewide and congressional races since 1972 in Louisiana, the candidate from Acadiana, regardless of party, has won statewide and district elections. An exception to that rule came in 1987 when the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Buddy Roemer]], who defected to the  Republicans in 1991, won without a [[general election]] when his Cajun intra-party rival, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], withdrew. Another exception occurred in 2004, when Republican [[David Vitter]] defeated Democrat Chris John. Both were then U.S. representatives.<ref name=cajuns/>

Considered a particularly observant political commentator, Treen coined the expression: "All things being equal, Cajuns vote for Cajuns."<ref name=cajuns>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=1739|title=Gen. [Russel] Honeré considering run for Senate|publisher=louisianaweekly.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009; no longer on-line.}}</ref>In most statewide and congressional races since 1972 in Louisiana, the candidate from Acadiana, regardless of party, has won statewide and district elections. An exception to that rule came in 1987 when the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Buddy Roemer]], who defected to the  Republicans in 1991, won without a [[general election]] when his Cajun intra-party rival, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], withdrew. Another exception occurred in 2004, when Republican [[David Vitter]] defeated Democrat Chris John. Both were then U.S. representatives.<ref name=cajuns/>

​===Treen v. Duke===​

===Treen v. Duke===​

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In late 1988, Republican state Representative Charles Cusimano resigned from the Distirct 81 seat in the Louisiana House after eight years to accept a position as a 24th Judicial District Court [[judge]]. In the special election, the candidates included Treen, Duke, Republican school board member Delton Charles, Democratic real estate agent D. J. "Bud" Olister (backed by Jefferson Parish [[Sheriff]] Harry Lee), and [[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]], a young [[business]]man from Metairie who was the Republican state chairman from 2004 to 2018. Duke finished first in the primary with 3,995 votes (33.1 percent).<ref name=campaigns>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328066|title=1989 Louisiana State Representative Election|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Because no candidate received a majority in the first round, a runoff was required between Duke and Treen, who polled 2,277 votes (18.9 percent) in the first round of balloting.<ref>Michael Zatarain, ''David Duke: Evolution of a Klansman'' (Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishers, 1990), ISBN 0-88289-817-5, ISBN 978-0-88289-817-9.</ref> ​

In late 1988, Republican state Representative Charles Cusimano resigned from the Distirct 81 seat in the Louisiana House after eight years to accept a position as a 24th Judicial District Court [[judge]]. In the special election, the candidates included Treen, Duke, Republican school board member Delton Charles, Democratic real estate agent D. J. "Bud" Olister (backed by Jefferson Parish [[Sheriff]] Harry Lee), and [[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]], a young [[business]]man from Metairie who was the Republican state chairman from 2004 to 2018. Duke finished first in the primary with 3,995 votes (33.1 percent).<ref name=campaigns>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328066|title=1989 Louisiana State Representative Election|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Because no candidate received a majority in the first round, a runoff was required between Duke and Treen, who polled 2,277 votes (18.9 percent) in the first round of balloting.<ref>Michael Zatarain, ''David Duke: Evolution of a Klansman'' (Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishers, 1990), ISBN 0-88289-817-5, ISBN 978-0-88289-817-9.</ref> ​