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→Senate service
In the 2003 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for senator, which attracted seven candidates, including former State Representative Weldon Russell of Amite City in Tangipahoa Parish, Nevers was forced into a second round of balloting with the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Richard E. Tanner, a retired teacher from St. Tammany Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Tanner withdrew from the race on the grounds that the candidates held similar views.<ref name=mlgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/BenNevers.html|title=Senator Ben Nevers|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref> Subsequently Nevers was unopposed in the 2007 primary.
In the 2003 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for senator, which attracted seven candidates, including former State Representative Weldon Russell of Amite City in Tangipahoa Parish, Nevers was forced into a second round of balloting with the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Richard E. Tanner, a retired teacher from St. Tammany Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Tanner withdrew from the race on the grounds that the candidates held similar views.<ref name=mlgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/BenNevers.html|title=Senator Ben Nevers|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref> Subsequently Nevers was unopposed in the 2007 primary.
Originally considered a more [[conservative]] Democrat, Nevers in 2007 filed an anti-[[abortion]] bill, backed by outgoing Democratic Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]], that permits abortions only in situations in which a woman's life is at risk from a pregnancy.<ref name=mlgs/> He sponsored the Louisiana Science Education Act, which permits teachers to use supplementary materials in class concerning the [[theory of evolution]] and [[creationism]]. Nevers said that the law, signed by then Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], is "strictly about teaching science in the classroom. It has nothing to do with religion. ... It shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against any particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/louisianas-ben-nevers-creationist-doublethink/|title=Louisiana's Ben Nevers: Creationist Doublethink, June 23, 2008|publisher=sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com|accessdate=September 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2008/06/louisiana-passes-first-antievolution-academic-freedom-law.ars|author=John Timmer|title=Louisiana passes first anti-evolution "academic freedom" law, June 2008|publisher=arstechnica.com|accessdate=September 2, 2011}}</ref> In 2011, opponents of the Louisiana Science Education Act, led by state Senator Karen Carter Peterson of [[New Orleans]], failed to obtain repeal the law. Some forty [[Nobel Prize]]-winning scientists endorsed the repeal of the measure on the premise that the law allows teachers to offer creationism views in classrooms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksla.com/story/14734163/senators-reject-repeal-of-science-education-act|title=Senators reject repeal of "Science Education Act", May 26, 2011|publisher=[[KSLA]].com|accessdate=September 2, 2011}}</ref>
Originally considered a more [[conservative]] Democrat, Nevers in 2007 filed an anti-[[abortion]] bill, backed by outgoing Democratic Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]], that permits abortions only in situations in which a woman's life is at risk from a pregnancy.<ref name=mlgs/> He sponsored the Louisiana Science Education Act, which permits teachers to use supplementary materials in class concerning the [[theory of evolution]] and [[creationism]]. Nevers said that the law, signed by then Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], is "strictly about teaching science in the classroom. It has nothing to do with religion. ... It shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against any particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/louisianas-ben-nevers-creationist-doublethink/|title=Louisiana's Ben Nevers: Creationist Doublethink, June 23, 2008|publisher=sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com|accessdate=September 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2008/06/louisiana-passes-first-antievolution-academic-freedom-law.ars|author=John Timmer|title=Louisiana passes first anti-evolution "academic freedom" law, June 2008|publisher=arstechnica.com|accessdate=September 2, 2011}}</ref> In 2011, opponents of the Louisiana Science Education Act, led by state Senator Karen Carter Peterson of [[New Orleans]], failed to obtain repeal the law. Some forty [[Nobel Prize]]-winning scientists endorsed the repeal of the measure on the premise that the law allows teachers to offer creationism views in classrooms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksla.com/story/14734163/senators-reject-repeal-of-science-education-act|title=Senators reject repeal of "Science Education Act", May 26, 2011|publisher=[[KSLA]].com|accessdate=September 2, 2011}}</ref>
In 1995, Nevers ran unsuccessfully for the House, having been defeated by the incumbent Democrat, later Republican, [[Jerry Thomas (Louisiana Politician)|Jerry Thomas]], a former Washington Parish coroner. Nevers polled 6,546 votes (42.9 percent) to Thomas's 8,713 votes (57.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>
In 1995, Nevers ran unsuccessfully for the House, having been defeated by the incumbent Democrat, later Republican, [[Jerry Thomas (Louisiana Politician)|Jerry Thomas]], a former Washington Parish coroner. Nevers polled 6,546 votes (42.9 percent) to Thomas's 8,713 votes (57.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>
===2011 reelection==
===2011 reelection===
Nevers was narrowly reelected in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2011. He received 15,116 votes (50.6 percent) to 14,764 (49.4 percent) for his Republican opponent and later successor Beth Mizell.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>
Nevers was narrowly reelected in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2011. He received 15,116 votes (50.6 percent) to 14,764 (49.4 percent) for his Republican opponent and later successor Beth Mizell.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>
Nevers is listed among the state and local officials who in 2014 endorsed the reelection in 2014 of [[liberal]] Democrat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2014/09/landrieus-gop-endorsements-pale-in-comparison-to-2008-election/|title=Landrieu’s GOP Endorsements Pale In Comparison To 2008 Election|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref>
Nevers is listed among the state and local officials who in 2014 endorsed the reelection in 2014 of [[liberal]] Democrat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2014/09/landrieus-gop-endorsements-pale-in-comparison-to-2008-election/|title=Landrieu’s GOP Endorsements Pale In Comparison To 2008 Election|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref>
Term-limited in the state Senate, Nevers was succeeded by Beth Mizell, who won the seat in the general election held on November 21, 2015. Mizell easily defeated the Democrat, Mickey Murphy, 19,404 votes (58 percent) to 14,033 (42 percent). She was the only Republican to have won a formerly Democratic Senate seat in the 2015 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=
Term-limited in the state Senate, Nevers was succeeded by Beth Mizell, who won the seat in the general election held on November 21, 2015. Mizell easily defeated the Democrat, Mickey Murphy, 19,404 votes (58 percent) to 14,033 (42 percent). She was the only Republican to have won a formerly Democratic Senate seat in the 2015 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=
Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 25, 2015}}</ref> Murphy is a former teacher, counselor, welding instructor, and college dean. He formerly chaired a workforce development board. He is a former president of his local [[Chamber of Commerce]]. The operator of a preschool, Mizell opposes Nevers' long-term proposal to build a reservoir in the Senate district, a project Murphy supported in the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://larants.thedeadpelican.com/2015/10/29/mizell-vs-lifelong-bureaucrat-in-12th-district/|title=Mizell v. Lifelong Bureaucrat in 12th District|publisher=''The Dead Pelican''|author=Chad Rogers|accessdate=March 10, 2020}}</ref>
Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 25, 2015}}</ref> Murphy is a former teacher, counselor, welding instructor, and college dean. He formerly chaired a workforce development board. He is a former president of his local [[Chamber of Commerce]]. The operator of a preschool, Mizell opposes Nevers' long-term proposal to build a reservoir in the Senate district, a project Murphy supported in the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://larants.thedeadpelican.com/2015/10/29/mizell-vs-lifelong-bureaucrat-in-12th-district/|title=Mizell v. Lifelong Bureaucrat in 12th District|publisher=''The Dead Pelican''|author=Chad Rogers|accessdate=March 10, 2020}}</ref>