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→Political career
==Political career==
==Political career==
Morrish won his Senate seat in the [[general election]] held on November 17, 2007, when he defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gillis James "Gil" Pinac of Crowley in Acadia Parish, a departing state representative from a nearby district. In a low-turnout contest, Morrish polled 11,186 votes (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref> Shortly after his defeat by Morrish, Pinac switched to Republican affiliation and ran third in a [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009, for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Former [[U.S. Representative]] Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Forest Hill in Rapides Parish won the PSC seat, after the second-place candidate, Democratic state Senator [[Joe McPherson]], also of Rapides Parish, withdrew from the runoff election.<ref>"Senator drops out of runoff for PSC," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' April 14, 2009, p. B2.</ref>
Morrish won his Senate seat in the [[general election]] held on November 17, 2007, when he defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gillis James "Gil" Pinac of Crowley in Acadia Parish, a departing state representative from a nearby district. In a low-turnout contest, Morrish polled 11,186 votes (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref> Shortly after his defeat by Morrish, Pinac switched to Republican affiliation and ran third in a [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009, for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Former [[U.S. Representative]] Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Forest Hill in Rapides Parish won the PSC seat, after the second-place candidate, Democratic state Senator [[Joe McPherson]], also of Rapides Parish, withdrew from the runoff election.<ref>"Senator drops out of runoff for PSC," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' April 14, 2009, p. B2.</ref>
Prior to his state Senate service, Morrish was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes) from 1996 to 2008. He won a special election in 1996 to succeed Gerald J. Theunissen, who resigned from the House upon election to the state Senate seat that Morrish won. Morrish was then unopposed as a Democrat for the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket primaries held in 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Jefferson Davis Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref> Morrish switched parties on November 18, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272551|title=Our Campaigns: Louisiana House race 2005, party switch|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> Like Morrish, Theunissen, another Democrat-turned-Republican from Jennings, served first in the House and then the Senate. Theunissen, a banker, was term-limited and ineligible to seek a fourth Senate term in the 2007 primary. Meanwhile, Morrish was succeeded in the House by another Jennings Republican businessman, John E. Guinn, who ran unsuccessfully against [[Moderate Republican]] Mark Abraham for state senator in the primary held on October 12, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=37|title=Louisiana House of Representatives: John E. Guinn|publisher=louisiana.gov|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name=ereturns>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019.</ref>
Prior to his state Senate service, Morrish was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes) from 1996 to 2008. He won a special election in 1996 to succeed Gerald J. Theunissen, who resigned from the House upon election to the state Senate seat that Morrish won. Morrish was then unopposed as a Democrat for the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket primaries held in 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Jefferson Davis Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref> Morrish switched parties on November 18, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272551|title=Our Campaigns: Louisiana House race 2005, party switch|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Morrish served his last term in the House as a member of the House Appropriations Committee as the representative for the former 7th congressional district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/H_Misc/Press_Rel/PDF/MorrishElectedAppCmte.pdf|title=Morrish Elected to Appropriations Committee|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> As s senator, Morrish served on the Legislative Rural Caucus and the Environmental Quality, Insurance, Coastal Restoration & Flood Control, and Revenue & Fiscal Affairs committees. He was vice-chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/assignments.asp|title=Louisiana State Senate: Dan W. "Blade" Morrish|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Like Morrish, Theunissen, another Democrat-turned-Republican from Jennings, served first in the House and then the Senate. Theunissen, a banker, was term-limited and ineligible to seek a fourth Senate term in the 2007 primary. Meanwhile, Morrish was succeeded in the House by another Jennings Republican businessman, John E. "Johnny" Guinn, who ran unsuccessfully against [[Moderate Republican]] Mark Abraham for state senator in the primary held on October 12, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=37|title=Louisiana House of Representatives: John E. Guinn|publisher=louisiana.gov|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name=ereturns>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019.</ref>
Morrish served his last term in the House as a member of the House Appropriations Committee as the representative for the former 7th congressional district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/H_Misc/Press_Rel/PDF/MorrishElectedAppCmte.pdf|title=Morrish Elected to Appropriations Committee|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> As state senator, Morrish served on the Legislative Rural Caucus and the Environmental Quality, Insurance, Coastal Restoration & Flood Control, and Revenue & Fiscal Affairs committees. He was vice-chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/assignments.asp|title=Louisiana State Senate: Dan W. "Blade" Morrish|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
He was considered a [[conservative]] in the legislature, having in 2008 supported the position of the Louisiana Family Forum 89 percent of the time. However, in 2009, Morrish voted with the Louisiana Restaurant Association and against the Family Forum's position<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/blogs/politicsblog/48787367.html|title=Chelsea's bill approved by the House|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=October 19, 2009}}</ref> when he supported a measure sponsored by Democratic then Senator Lydia P. Jackson of [[Shreveport]] and signed by [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], which allows [[restaurant]]s to assess cover charges for live entertainment and to serve [[alcoholic beverage]]s.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=15196|title=Project VoteSmart: Senator Dan W. 'Blade' Morrish|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=October 14, 2008}}</ref> Morrish similarly received an 86 percent rating from the [[interest group]], the [[Louisiana Association of Business and Industry]].<ref name=vsmart/>
He was considered a [[conservative]] in the legislature, having in 2008 supported the position of the Louisiana Family Forum 89 percent of the time. However, in 2009, Morrish voted with the Louisiana Restaurant Association and against the Family Forum's position<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/blogs/politicsblog/48787367.html|title=Chelsea's bill approved by the House|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=October 19, 2009}}</ref> when he supported a measure sponsored by Democratic then Senator Lydia P. Jackson of [[Shreveport]] and signed by [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], which allows [[restaurant]]s to assess cover charges for live entertainment and to serve [[alcoholic beverage]]s.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=15196|title=Project VoteSmart: Senator Dan W. 'Blade' Morrish|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=October 14, 2008}}</ref> Morrish similarly received an 86 percent rating from the [[interest group]], the [[Louisiana Association of Business and Industry]].<ref name=vsmart/>