Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

Norbert Chabert himself was a Democrat until March 2011, when that same month he joined [[Jody Amedee]] of Gonzales in Ascension Parish in switching to [[Republican Party|GOP]] allegiance. The changes produced a numerical Republican majority in the upper legislative chamber. The preceding year, nearly 47 percent of Chabert's constituents who voted in the special election cast ballots for the defeated Republican candidate.<ref name=elections/> Chabert won the Senate seat in [[special election]] in the summer of 2009 to succeed Democrat Reginald Paul "Reggie" Dupre, Jr.<ref name=legis/> Chabert ran second in the contest with 4,359 votes (32.6 percent). Republican Brent Callais led with 5,055 votes (37.8 percent). A second Democrat, Damon J. Baldone polled the critical 3,957 votes (29.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, August 1, 2009.</ref>

Norbert Chabert himself was a Democrat until March 2011, when that same month he joined [[Jody Amedee]] of Gonzales in Ascension Parish in switching to [[Republican Party|GOP]] allegiance. The changes produced a numerical Republican majority in the upper legislative chamber. The preceding year, nearly 47 percent of Chabert's constituents who voted in the special election cast ballots for the defeated Republican candidate.<ref name=elections/> Chabert won the Senate seat in [[special election]] in the summer of 2009 to succeed Democrat Reginald Paul "Reggie" Dupre, Jr.<ref name=legis/> Chabert ran second in the contest with 4,359 votes (32.6 percent). Republican Brent Callais led with 5,055 votes (37.8 percent). A second Democrat, Damon J. Baldone polled the critical 3,957 votes (29.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, August 1, 2009.</ref>

In the second round of balloting, Chabert defeated Callais, 9,576 votes (54.3 percent) to 8,050 (45.7 percent).<ref name=elections>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Results, August 29, 2009.</ref>

In the second round of balloting, Chabert defeated Callais, 9,576 votes (54.3 percent) to 8,050 (45.7 percent).<ref name=elections>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Results, August 29, 2009.</ref>

In 2010, Chabert voted to require [[sonogram]]s for women contemplating [[abortion]]. He vote against allowing insurance companies to cover elective abortions. Chabert voted to impose penalties to those participating in cockfighting, a particularly sordid activity popular among some in Louisiana. He supported making the state [[tobacco]] tax permanent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=116725|title=Norby Chabert's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref> Chabert voted 55 percent of the time in 2010 with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. The Louisiana Family Forum gave him a 78 percent rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=116725|title=Norby Chabert's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref> In 2011, Chabert voted against the congressional [[redistricting]] bill because Houma and Thibodaux have been split between the 1st and the 3rd congressional districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2011/04/legislature-passes-congressional-redistricting-bill-gop-star-is-born/|title=Legislature Passes Congressional Redistricting Bill, GOP Star Is Born|date= April 13, 2011|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref>​

In 2010, Chabert voted to require [[sonogram]]s for women contemplating [[abortion]]. He vote against allowing insurance companies to cover elective abortions. Chabert voted to impose penalties to those participating in cockfighting, a particularly sordid activity popular among some in Louisiana. He supported making the state [[tobacco]] tax permanent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=116725|title=Norby Chabert's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref> Chabert voted 55 percent of the time in 2010 with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. The Louisiana Family Forum gave him a 78 percent rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=116725|title=Norby Chabert's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref> In 2011, Chabert voted against the congressional [[redistricting]] bill because Houma and Thibodaux have been split between the 1st and the 3rd congressional districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2011/04/legislature-passes-congressional-redistricting-bill-gop-star-is-born/|title=Legislature Passes Congressional Redistricting Bill, GOP Star Is Born|date= April 13, 2011|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref>​

Chabert ran unopposed for a second term in the Senate in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 22, 2011. He won his third Senate term in 2015 with 11,921 votes (51.1 percent) in a race against his fellow Republican [[Michael Fesi]] who polled 9,944 votes (42.6 percent). The remaining 1,456 ballots (6.2 percent) went to the No-Party candidate, Mark Atzenhoffer.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2015.</ref>​ Fesi rebounded to win the race to succeed Chabert in 2019.

Chabert ran unopposed for a second term in the Senate in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 22, 2011. He won his third Senate term in 2015 with 11,921 votes (51.1 percent) in a race against his fellow Republican [[Michael Fesi]] who polled 9,944 votes (42.6 percent). The remaining 1,456 ballots (6.2 percent) went to the No-Party candidate, Mark Atzenhoffer.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2015.</ref>​ Fesi rebounded to win the race to succeed Chabert in 2019.