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Donelon, who followed in Grisbaum's path, also has ties to Treen. It had been then newly inaugurated Governor Treen in 1980, who proposed that Republicans unite behind Donelon for the special election to choose Treen's congressional successor. In 1996–1997, the [[Christian Coalition]] gave him an overall 80 percent rating for that legislative session.

Donelon, who followed in Grisbaum's path, also has ties to Treen. It had been then newly inaugurated Governor Treen in 1980, who proposed that Republicans unite behind Donelon for the special election to choose Treen's congressional successor. In 1996–1997, the [[Christian Coalition]] gave him an overall 80 percent rating for that legislative session.

After he won repeated legislative reelection in Jefferson Parish, Donelon became his party's "sacrificial lamb" in 1998 against U. S. Senator John Breaux of Crowley in Acadia Parish, who was running for a third and, as it turned out, final term as senator. Donelon stepped up to run when other candidates deferred to the inevitability of Breaux's reelection. The race was not close. Breaux won the nonpartisan blanket primary, often called the jungle primary, outright with 620,504 votes (64 percent). Donelon trailed with 306,616 (32 percent). The remaining 4 percent was shared by a half-dozen minor candidates, including Luther D. Knox of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish, who legally changed his name to include "Nota", meaning "None of the Above"  to stress the need for the option of rejecting all the declared candidates. <ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  November 3,  1998.</ref>

After he won repeated legislative reelection in Jefferson Parish, Donelon became his party's "sacrificial lamb" in 1998 against U. S. Senator John Breaux of Crowley in Acadia Parish, who was running for a third and, as it turned out, final term as senator. Donelon stepped up to run when other candidates deferred to the inevitability of Breaux's reelection. The race was not close. Breaux won the nonpartisan blanket primary, often called the jungle primary, outright with 620,504 votes (64 percent). Donelon trailed with 306,616 (32 percent). The remaining 4 percent was shared by a half-dozen minor candidates, including [[L. D. Knox]] of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish, who legally changed his name to include "Nota," meaning "None of the Above,"  to stress the need for the option of rejecting all the declared candidates.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  November 3,  1998.</ref>

Donelon held the legislative seat, District 98, for nineteen years until his resignation on June 30, 2001. As he took the position in the Department of Insurance, Donelon was succeeded by a fellow Republican, Tom Capella.  

Donelon held the legislative seat, District 98, for nineteen years until his resignation on June 30, 2001. As he took the position in the Department of Insurance, Donelon was succeeded by a fellow Republican, Tom Capella.