Changes

In the 1975 nonpartisan blanket primary, also known as the jungle primary, the first ever held in Louisiana in which all candidates regardless of party appear on the same primary ballot, Kelly upset freshman Senator [[Paul Foshee]], of Natchitoches. In Louisiana congressional, state and local  elections, the winner of the primary, or the runoff election (called the [[general election]] even if both finalists are of the same party designation), hence wins the office. In 1979, Kelly won a second term by defeating Foshee's 23-year-old son, Democrat George Barnes Foshee (1956–2000). In 1987, Foshee unsuccessfully challenged Kelly. In 1991, Kelly defeated 19-year-old Republican (later [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Randall Todd Hayes (born 1972) of Atlanta in Winn Parish, 29,410 votes (75.4 percent) to 9,599 (24.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref>

In the 1975 nonpartisan blanket primary, also known as the jungle primary, the first ever held in Louisiana in which all candidates regardless of party appear on the same primary ballot, Kelly upset freshman Senator [[Paul Foshee]], of Natchitoches. In Louisiana congressional, state and local  elections, the winner of the primary, or the runoff election (called the [[general election]] even if both finalists are of the same party designation), hence wins the office. In 1979, Kelly won a second term by defeating Foshee's 23-year-old son, Democrat George Barnes Foshee (1956–2000). In 1987, Foshee unsuccessfully challenged Kelly. In 1991, Kelly defeated 19-year-old Republican (later [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Randall Todd Hayes (born 1972) of Atlanta in Winn Parish, 29,410 votes (75.4 percent) to 9,599 (24.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref>

In 1995, Kelly did not seek a sixth term and was succeeded by fellow Democrat [[Mike Smith (Louisiana politician)|Kenneth Michael "Mike" Smith]] of Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/Documents/SenateMembership1880ForwardRevisedMar2011.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>​

In 1995, Kelly did not seek a sixth term and was succeeded by fellow Democrat [[Mike Smith (Louisiana Politician)|Kenneth Michael "Mike" Smith]] of Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/Documents/SenateMembership1880ForwardRevisedMar2011.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>​

Kelly worked closely with the Edwards administration to upgrade Northwestern State University and to bring public works projects to his north central Louisiana district, which includes Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Rapides, and Red River parishes. For a time DeSoto Parish was also in District 31, but no longer. Kelly was considered such a political powerhouse that he could have on more than one occasion become state Senate President for the asking, but he instead concentrated on his district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS01/80201018|date=February 1, 2008|title=Don Kelly|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=February 9, 2008; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

Kelly worked closely with the Edwards administration to upgrade Northwestern State University and to bring public works projects to his north central Louisiana district, which includes Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Rapides, and Red River parishes. For a time DeSoto Parish was also in District 31, but no longer. Kelly was considered such a political powerhouse that he could have on more than one occasion become state Senate President for the asking, but he instead concentrated on his district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS01/80201018|date=February 1, 2008|title=Don Kelly|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=February 9, 2008; no longer on-line}}</ref>​