Changes

| term_start=January 3, 1965​

| term_start=January 3, 1965​

| term_end=January 3, 1973​

| term_end=January 3, 1973​

| preceded=Gillis William Long​

| preceded=[[Gillis Long]]​

| succeeded=Gillis William Long

| succeeded=Gillis Long

| office2=Louisiana State Senator​

| office2=Louisiana State Senator​

| term_start2=May 1956​

| term_start2=May 1956​

'''Speedy Oteria Long''' (June 16, 1928 – October 5, 2006) was an [[attorney]] and [[politician]] from LaSalle Parish, [[Louisiana]], who was a prominent member of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political dynasty. From 1965 to 1973, he was a [[conservative]] [[U.S. Representative]] for Louisiana's since disbanded 8th congressional district, which was anchored about [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].

'''Speedy Oteria Long''' (June 16, 1928 – October 5, 2006) was an [[attorney]] and [[politician]] from LaSalle Parish, [[Louisiana]], who was a prominent member of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political dynasty. From 1965 to 1973, he was a [[conservative]] [[U.S. Representative]] for Louisiana's since disbanded 8th congressional district, which was anchored about [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].

Before his congressional tenure, he was a state senator (1956-1964).

 

After he left Congress, Long was elected as district attorney (1973–1985) for the 28th Judicial District, based in Jena. He resumed the practice of law in Jena from 1985 to 2005 but was called back to public service in 1994 when the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed him judge pro tem of the 28th Judicial District Court until a judge could be elected in 1995.  

Before his congressional tenure, he was a state senator (1956-1964). After he left Congress, Long was elected as district attorney (1973–1985) for the 28th Judicial District, based in Jena. He resumed the practice of law in Jena from 1985 to 2005 but was called back to public service in 1994 when the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed him judge pro tem of the 28th Judicial District Court until a judge could be elected in 1995.  

He also ran for governor in the 1971 closed Democratic [[primary]], from which emerged [[Edwin Edwards]] as the victor. He ran again for governor in 1987, when Edwards trailed in the nonpartisan blanket primary, withdrew from the [[general election]], and [[Buddy Roemer]] became the governor.

He also ran for governor in the 1971 closed Democratic [[primary]], from which emerged [[Edwin Edwards]] as the victor. He ran again for governor in 1987, when Edwards trailed in the nonpartisan blanket primary, withdrew from the [[general election]], and [[Buddy Roemer]] became the governor.

==Speedy Long challenges Gillis Long==

==Speedy Long challenges Gillis Long==

After Speedy Long vacated his state Senate seat in 1964, he immediately launched a campaign against his third cousin, Gillis William Long of Alexandria, for Louisiana's 8th congressional district seat (now part of the 5th district). Four years earlier, in the summer of 1960, Earl Long had won a Democratic primary by a 6,000-vote margin for the seat held by Harold B. McSween of Alexandria and also held prior to 1958 by Long's late brother, George S. Long. When Earl Long died as the Democratic congressional nominee, the nomination reverted to McSween, the choice of the Democratic State Central committee. Two years later, in 1962, Gillis Long unseated McSween in the Democratic primary.

After Speedy Long vacated his state Senate seat in 1964, he immediately launched a campaign against his third cousin, [[Gillis Long]] of Alexandria, for Louisiana's 8th congressional district seat (now part of the 5th district). Four years earlier, in the summer of 1960, Earl Long had won a Democratic primary by a 6,000-vote margin for the seat held by Harold B. McSween of Alexandria and also held prior to 1958 by Long's late brother, George S. Long. When Earl Long died as the Democratic congressional nominee, the nomination reverted to McSween, the choice of the Democratic State Central committee. Two years later, in 1962, Gillis Long unseated McSween in the Democratic primary.

Gillis Long had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial contender against John McKeithen in the primary held in December 1963. He was a freshman House member who had not fully consolidated his hold on the district. Therefore, he was most vulnerable to his cousin's challenge. Speedy Long made it clear to voters that he was far different from his cousin Gillis, whom he dubbed a "Washington lawyer." Speedy Long, "just a Jena lawyer," vowed to vote far more conservatively on policy issues than Gillis Long had done in his one term in Congress.

Gillis Long had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial contender against John McKeithen in the primary held in December 1963. He was a freshman House member who had not fully consolidated his hold on the district. Therefore, he was most vulnerable to his cousin's challenge. Speedy Long made it clear to voters that he was far different from his cousin Gillis, whom he dubbed a "Washington lawyer." Speedy Long, "just a Jena lawyer," vowed to vote far more conservatively on policy issues than Gillis Long had done in his one term in Congress.