Changes

Instead, Roy announced his exit from the legislature so that he could spend more "Little League time" with his youngest son, John Roy, a seventh grader in 2011.<ref name=kalb/> Representative Roy also said that he had grown weary of partisan divisions, particularly during recent controversies over congressional [[redistricting]].<ref name=roy>"Rep. Roy opts for family time over running for reelection," ''The Alexandria Town Talk,''July 20, 2011.</ref>​

Instead, Roy announced his exit from the legislature so that he could spend more "Little League time" with his youngest son, John Roy, a seventh grader in 2011.<ref name=kalb/> Representative Roy also said that he had grown weary of partisan divisions, particularly during recent controversies over congressional [[redistricting]].<ref name=roy>"Rep. Roy opts for family time over running for reelection," ''The Alexandria Town Talk,''July 20, 2011.</ref>​

After a series of party switches  by Democratic members from increasingly Republican-leaning areas and several [[special election]]s held in 2010 and 2011, Republicans claimed majorities in both legislative chambers for the first time since [[Reconstruction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/03/republican_majority_in_louisia.html|title="Republican majority in Louisiana House of Representatives increases," March 12, 2011|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=August 3, 2011}}</ref>​

After a series of party switches  by Democratic members from increasingly Republican-leaning areas and several [[special election]]s held in 2010 and 2011, Republicans claimed majorities in both legislative chambers for the first time since [[Reconstruction]].<ref>"Republican majority in Louisiana House of Representatives increases," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' March 12, 2011.</ref>​

Elliott Stonecipher, a conservative political consultant and pollster from [[Shreveport]], noted that redistricting may have strengthened the slim Republican majorities in the legislature. Senate District 29, then represented by the retiring Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], also of Woodworth, was carved up into a minority district that meanders from south Rapides to Lincoln parishes. Stonecipher said that while the ranks of African-American legislators may increase, the final numbers may not translate into Democrat numerical gains.<ref name=roy/>​

Elliott Stonecipher, a conservative political consultant and pollster from [[Shreveport]], noted that redistricting may have strengthened the slim Republican majorities in the legislature. Senate District 29, then represented by the retiring Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], also of Woodworth, was carved up into a minority district that meanders from south Rapides to Lincoln parishes. Stonecipher said that while the ranks of African-American legislators may increase, the final numbers may not translate into Democrat numerical gains.<ref name=roy/>​