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In 2003, Ewing launched an unsuccessful campaign for governor in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]]. He finished in fifth place with some 123,936 votes (9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> Ewing secured the endorsement of Democrats [[Ray Nagin]], then the [[African-American]] [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]]; former state Representatives [[Kenneth Volentine]], then the sheriff of Claiborne Parish, and Virgil D. Orr of Lincoln Parish, along with the Republicans, state Senator Robert Jocelyn Barham of Oak Ridge in Morehouse Parish and former state Senator Tommy Casanova, an ophthalmologist from Crowley and a former LSU [[football]] great.great. Though he was considered a somewhat [[conservative]] Democrat, the [[Christian Coalition]] rated Ewing at only 44 percent, compared to 90 percent for then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], a Republican. The winner of the gubernatorial race was Ewing's fellow Democrat, [[Kathleen Blanco]] of [[Lafayette]].

In 2003, Ewing launched an unsuccessful campaign for governor in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]]. He finished in fifth place with some 123,936 votes (9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> Ewing secured the endorsement of Democrats [[Ray Nagin]], then the [[African-American]] [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]]; former state Representatives [[Kenneth Volentine]], then the sheriff of Claiborne Parish, and Virgil D. Orr of Lincoln Parish, along with the Republicans, state Senator Robert Jocelyn Barham of Oak Ridge in Morehouse Parish and former state Senator Tommy Casanova, an ophthalmologist from Crowley and a former LSU [[football]] great.great. Though he was considered a somewhat [[conservative]] Democrat, the [[Christian Coalition]] rated Ewing at only 44 percent, compared to 90 percent for then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], a Republican. The winner of the gubernatorial race was Ewing's fellow Democrat, [[Kathleen Blanco]] of [[Lafayette]].

In 1996, Louisiana Governmental Services, Inc., called Ewing the "conscience of the Senate." In 1999, Ewing was inducted into the LSU Hall of Distinction.​

In 1996, Louisiana Governmental Services, Inc., called Ewing the "conscience of the Senate." That year, he became Senate President, defeating fellow Democrat [[Cecil Picard]]. In 1999, Ewing was inducted into the LSU Hall of Distinction.​

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In 2008, Ewing held a fund raiser at his home for Democratic U.S. Senator [[Mary Landrieu]], who defeated her Republican opponent, state treasurer and later U.S. Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]], to win a third term. Among those attending the gathering was the Republican U.S. Representative [[Rodney Alexander]], formerly of Louisiana's 5th congressional district.<ref>"La-Sen: Hey Villere ([[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]]): You Gonna’ Censure Rodney?", Dailykingfish.com, accessed November 8, 2009}}</ref>​

In 2008, Ewing held a fund raiser at his home for Democratic U.S. Senator [[Mary Landrieu]], who defeated her Republican opponent, state treasurer and later U.S. Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]], to win a third term. Among those attending the gathering was the Republican U.S. Representative [[Rodney Alexander]], formerly of Louisiana's 5th congressional district.<ref>"La-Sen: Hey Villere ([[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]]): You Gonna’ Censure Rodney?", Dailykingfish.com, accessed November 8, 2009}}</ref>​