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→State House service
As a state House member, Cain built his career by being on friendly terms with Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. [[Ron Gomez]], a House colleague from [[Lafayette]], describes Cain, accordingly:
As a state House member, Cain built his career by being on friendly terms with Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. [[Ron Gomez]], a House colleague from [[Lafayette]], describes Cain, accordingly:
"... a masterful politician. He had disciplined himself to make ten phone calls per day to constituents. He did it every day, absolutely without fail. His legislative aide would give him 3 x 5 cards with a voter's name, address, phone number, occupation and names of family members and other pertinent information as available on each one. James David would call ten of them a day, note on the card the subject and gist of each conversation and the aide would write a follow-up letter the next day. The subject of the conversation was not significant. The fact of the call was the important thing. ... How can you beat that kind of politicking?"<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'' ([[Lafayette]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000), p. 253-254, ISBN 0-9700156-0-7.</ref>
"... a masterful politician. He had disciplined himself to make ten phone calls per day to constituents. He did it every day, absolutely without fail. His legislative aide would give him 3 x 5 cards with a voter's name, address, phone number, occupation and names of family members and other pertinent information as available on each one. James David would call ten of them a day, note on the card the subject and gist of each conversation and the aide would write a follow-up letter the next day. The subject of the conversation was not significant. The fact of the call was the important thing. ... How can you beat that kind of politicking?"<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'' ([[Lafayette]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000), p. 253-254, ISBN 0-9700156-0-7.</ref>
==1986 congressional race==
In 1986, Cain ran unsuccessfully in the primary for the since disbanded Louisiana 7th congressional district, then vacated by Democrat [[John Breaux]], at the time from Crowley in Acadia Parish, who would instead win the seat of retiring [[U.S. Senator]] [[Russell Long]]. Cain only narrowly failed to gain a general election berth, and the seat was won by Democrat (and later Republican) Jimmy Hayes of Lafayette. Cain polled 40,554 votes (24 percent), but he was edged out of second place by legislative colleague Margaret Lowenthal of Lake Charles, who received 42,839 (25 percent). Hayes led with 51,137 (30 percent). Also in the race was the Republican [[David Thibodaux]] of Lafayette, who received 21,082 (12 percent). Two other contenders shared the remaining 8 percent of the vote. In the general election, Hayes defeated Lowenthal.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 27, 1986.</ref>
In 1986, Cain ran unsuccessfully in the primary for the since disbanded Louisiana 7th congressional district, then vacated by Democrat [[John Breaux]], at the time from Crowley in Acadia Parish, who would instead win the seat of retiring [[U.S. Senator]] [[Russell Long]]. Cain only narrowly failed to gain a general election berth, and the seat was won by Democrat (and later Republican) Jimmy Hayes of Lafayette. Cain polled 40,554 votes (24 percent), but he was edged out of second place by legislative colleague Margaret Lowenthal of Lake Charles, who received 42,839 (25 percent). Hayes led with 51,137 (30 percent). Also in the race was the Republican [[David Thibodaux]] of Lafayette, who received 21,082 (12 percent). Two other contenders shared the remaining 8 percent of the vote. In the general election, Hayes defeated Lowenthal.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 27, 1986.</ref>
==Four state Senate elections==
==Four state Senate elections==
In 1991, Senator Bryan A. Poston, a businessman from Hornbeck first elected in 1964, announced that he would not seek an eighth term in the Senate. Cain and a fellow Democratic House member, Allen Bradley of DeRidder, hence contested the open seat, which encompassed Calcasieu (seven precincts), Beauregard, Vernon, and Sabine parishes. Cain prevailed with 17,527 votes (56 percent) to Bradley's 13,947 (44 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 27, 1986.</ref>
In 1991, Senator Bryan A. Poston, a businessman from Hornbeck first elected in 1964, announced that he would not seek an eighth term in the Senate. Cain and a fellow Democratic House member, Allen Bradley of DeRidder, hence contested the open seat, which encompassed Calcasieu (seven precincts), Beauregard, Vernon, and Sabine parishes. Cain prevailed with 17,527 votes (56 percent) to Bradley's 13,947 (44 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 27, 1986.</ref>
In 1995, Cain defeated the Republican Marion Garland Anthony, 21,278 (73 percent) to 7,962 (27 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> He was unopposed in 1999.
In 1995, Cain defeated the Republican Marion Garland Anthony, 21,278 (73 percent) to 7,962 (27 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> He was unopposed in 1999.
As a senator, Cain was among legislators who opposed the since repealed Stelly Plan, a tax shifting proposal in 2002 to reduce state sales taxes on food consumed at home and on utilities with a corresponding increase in state [[income tax]]es, which particularly impacted higher-income taxpayers. The plan is named for former State Representative [[Vic Stelly]] of Lake Charles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/2005/03/stelly-still-trying-to-make-silk-purse.html|title=''Between the Lines'': "Stelly still trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear"|publisher=jeffsadow.blogspot.com|accessdate=October 27, 2009}}</ref>
As a senator, Cain was among legislators who opposed the since repealed Stelly Plan, a tax shifting proposal in 2002 to reduce state sales taxes on food consumed at home and on utilities with a corresponding increase in state [[income tax]]es, which particularly impacted higher-income taxpayers. The plan is named for former State Representative [[Vic Stelly]] of Lake Charles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jeffsadow.blogspot.com/2005/03/stelly-still-trying-to-make-silk-purse.html|title=''Between the Lines'': "Stelly still trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear"|publisher=jeffsadow.blogspot.com|accessdate=November 6, 2019}}</ref>
Cain switched affiliation to Republican prior to his last Senate election in 2003, when he received 19,609 votes (72 percent) to 6,411 (23 percent) for the Democrat Lloydell "Iles" Mullican and 1,345 (5 percent) for the "No Party" Arnold Russell Williams. He was hence nominated without the need for a [[general election]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref>
Cain switched affiliation to Republican prior to his last Senate election in 2003, when he received 19,609 votes (72 percent) to 6,411 (23 percent) for the Democrat Lloydell "Iles" Mullican and 1,345 (5 percent) for the "No Party" Arnold Russell Williams. He was hence nominated without the need for a [[general election]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref>