Changes

Congressman Brooks, who had served since 1937, endorsed Stevenson: "I have always been a Democrat and am too old to change now." Allen questioned Brooks' constituent services. He asked why there was inadequate postal service in Springhill in northern Webster Parish. Roy M. Fish, a Springhill attorney and then the chairman of the Webster Parish Republican Party, said that Brooks appeared to be attempting to coast to victory "on the coattails of both parties." [[Clem S. Clarke]], the Shreveport Republican oilman who had unsuccessfully challenged the election of Democrat [[Russell Long]] to the [[U.S. Senate]] in the 1948 general election, declared in an Allen advertisement: "We need a Southern Republican." Allen also won some Democratic support but not nearly at the level needed to win the election.<ref name=tst/>​

Congressman Brooks, who had served since 1937, endorsed Stevenson: "I have always been a Democrat and am too old to change now." Allen questioned Brooks' constituent services. He asked why there was inadequate postal service in Springhill in northern Webster Parish. Roy M. Fish, a Springhill attorney and then the chairman of the Webster Parish Republican Party, said that Brooks appeared to be attempting to coast to victory "on the coattails of both parties." [[Clem S. Clarke]], the Shreveport Republican oilman who had unsuccessfully challenged the election of Democrat [[Russell Long]] to the [[U.S. Senate]] in the 1948 general election, declared in an Allen advertisement: "We need a Southern Republican." Allen also won some Democratic support but not nearly at the level needed to win the election.<ref name=tst/>​

In addition to the Allen campaign, Republicans in 1956 offered a congressional candidate in Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which then encompassed parts of New Orleans and suburban Jefferson Parish. He was George R. Blue, an attorney. Attracted to Blue's candidacy but still a Democrat was a young Metairie attorney, [[David C. Treen]], who would later become the first Louisiana Republican to win a seat in Congress<ref>Grover Rees, III, ''Dave Treen of Louisiana'' (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Moran Publishing Company, 1979), p. 40.</ref> and to hold the governorship as well, beginning in March 1980.​

In addition to the Allen campaign, Republicans in 1956 offered a congressional candidate in Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which then encompassed parts of New Orleans and suburban Jefferson Parish. He was George R. Blue, an attorney. Attracted to Blue's candidacy but still a Democrat was a young Metairie attorney, [[David C. Treen]], who would later become the first Louisiana Republican to win a seat in Congress<ref>[[Grover Rees, III]], ''Dave Treen of Louisiana'' (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Moran Publishing Company, 1979), p. 40.</ref> and to hold the governorship as well, beginning in March 1980.​

Eisenhower easily won Louisiana in 1956, the first Republican presidential victory in the state since the disputed election of [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] in 1876. He led in 43 parishes and polled 329,047 votes (53.2 percent) to Stevenson's 243,977 (39.5 percent). The States' Rights Party of Louisiana received 44,520 votes (7.2 percent).<ref name=1956returns>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 6, 1956.</ref> Stevenson ran nearly 100,000 votes behind his showing in Louisiana four years earlier.​

Eisenhower easily won Louisiana in 1956, the first Republican presidential victory in the state since the disputed election of [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] in 1876. He led in 43 parishes and polled 329,047 votes (53.2 percent) to Stevenson's 243,977 (39.5 percent). The States' Rights Party of Louisiana received 44,520 votes (7.2 percent).<ref name=1956returns>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 6, 1956.</ref> Stevenson ran nearly 100,000 votes behind his showing in Louisiana four years earlier.​