Changes

| preceded= [[John K. Snyder]]​

| preceded= [[John K. Snyder]]​

| succeeded=Jacques Roy​

| succeeded=Jacques Roy​

|office2=Louisiana State Senator<br> for District 29 (Rapides Parish)]]​

|office2=Louisiana State Senator<br> for District 29 (Rapides Parish)​

|term_start2=1976​

|term_start2=1976​

|term_end2=1984​

|term_end2=1984​

In 1982 and 1992, Randolph was an unsuccessful candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], having lost to the incumbents [[Gillis Long]] of Alexandria and Richard Hugh Baker of [[Baton Rouge]], respectively.

In 1982 and 1992, Randolph was an unsuccessful candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], having lost to the incumbents [[Gillis Long]] of Alexandria and Richard Hugh Baker of [[Baton Rouge]], respectively.

==Background==​

==Background==

Randolph was the son of Edward Randolph, Sr. (1911–1996), and the former Edith Beatrice Harrison (1910–2005). Born at Rapides Baptist Hospital in Alexandria, he was reared mostly in [[rural]] Colfax in Grant Parish north of Alexandria. He graduated in 1960 from Bolton High School in the Alexandria Garden District and in 1964 from [[Princeton University]] in Princeton,  [[New Jersey]], in 1964. Thereafter, he obtained his law degree from [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]]. He practiced law in New Orleans with the firm Phelps Dunbar before he returned to Alexandria, where he quickly entered elective politics.​ He served in the Louisiana National Guard and the [[United States Air Force]] Reserves.<ref name=findagrave/>

Randolph was the son of Edward Randolph, Sr. (1911–1996), and the former Edith Beatrice Harrison (1910–2005). Born at Rapides Baptist Hospital in Alexandria, he was reared mostly in [[rural]] Colfax in Grant Parish north of Alexandria. He graduated in 1960 from Bolton High School in the Alexandria Garden District and in 1964 from [[Princeton University]] in Princeton,  [[New Jersey]], in 1964. Thereafter, he obtained his law degree from [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]]. He practiced law in New Orleans with the firm Phelps Dunbar before he returned to Alexandria, where he quickly entered elective politics.​ He served in the Louisiana National Guard and the [[United States Air Force]] Reserves.<ref name=findagrave/>

==Legislative years==​

==Legislative years==

In 1972, Randolph was elected to the position of state representative for newly established single-member District 26. After he secured the Democratic nomination over a field that included Alexandria [[restaurateur]] John Hampton "Hamp" Smith (1937-2005), Randolph polled 71.4 percent of the general election vote to 28.6 percent for [[Republican Party|Republican]] P. C. "Clyde" Connell, Jr., an educator unrelated to the Louisiana artist Clyde Connell (1901-1998), a woman. In the legislature, Randolph compiled a record of seeking to bring state funding and projects to central Louisiana.​

In 1972, Randolph was elected to the position of state representative for newly established single-member District 26. After he secured the Democratic nomination over a field that included Alexandria [[restaurateur]] John Hampton "Hamp" Smith (1937-2005), Randolph polled 71.4 percent of the general election vote to 28.6 percent for [[Republican Party|Republican]] P. C. "Clyde" Connell, Jr., an educator unrelated to the Louisiana artist Clyde Connell (1901-1998), a woman. In the legislature, Randolph compiled a record of seeking to bring state funding and projects to central Louisiana.​

 

In 1975, he ran for the District 29 state Senate seat and unseated the 14-year incumbent, [[Cecil R. Blair]], a fellow Democrat from Lecompte in south Rapides Parish, in the first nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held in Louisiana.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1, 1975.</ref>

In 1975, he ran for the District 29 state Senate seat and unseated the 14-year incumbent, [[Cecil R. Blair]], a fellow Democrat from Lecompte in south Rapides Parish, in the first nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held in Louisiana.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1, 1975.</ref>

 

In 1976, as a new state senator, Randolph and [[Jock Scott]], his House successor, led the successful Rapides Parish campaign to elect Democratic presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]of [[Georgia]]. A quiet, introspective man, Randolph learned how to get things done for his district during his two terms in the state senate.​

In 1976, as a new state senator, Randolph and [[Jock Scott]], his House successor, led the successful Rapides Parish campaign to elect Democratic presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]of [[Georgia]]. A quiet, introspective man, Randolph learned how to get things done for his district during his two terms in the state senate.​

 

==Randolph's political challenges==​

==Political challenges==

In 1982, Randolph challenged [[U.S. Representative]] [[Gillis Long]] of the since defunct 8th congressional district in central Louisiana.  Long prevailed with 71,103 ballots (59.6 percent), to Randolph's 46,656 votes (39.1 percent). During that campaign, Randolph made appearances with popular [[Soap opera|soap-opera]] star Deidre Hall of [[NBC]]'s 'Days of Our Lives,'' whom he was dating at the time after the breakup of his first marriage to Sanna Randolph.​

In 1982, Randolph challenged [[U.S. Representative]] [[Gillis Long]] of the since defunct 8th congressional district in central Louisiana.  Long prevailed with 71,103 ballots (59.6 percent), to Randolph's 46,656 votes (39.1 percent). During that campaign, Randolph made appearances with popular [[Soap opera|soap-opera]] star Deidre Hall of [[NBC]]'s 'Days of Our Lives,'' whom he was dating at the time after the breakup of his first marriage to Sanna Randolph.​

 

In 1983, Randolph was unseated in the primary for reelection to the state senate by fellow Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], then of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the Red River from Alexandria and later from Woodworth in south Rapides Parish. McPherson, who was elected to the state senate again in 2007, was supported by both Congressman Long and Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], who was making a successful bid in that same election for a third term in the governor's office.​

In 1983, Randolph was unseated in the primary for reelection to the state senate by fellow Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], then of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the Red River from Alexandria and later from Woodworth in south Rapides Parish. McPherson, who was elected to the state senate again in 2007, was supported by both Congressman Long and Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], who was making a successful bid in that same election for a third term in the governor's office.​

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Prior to his death in Alexandria at the age of seventy-four, Randolph practiced law and served as the Central Louisiana representative for the state Attorney General's Office.  IRandolph had two children from his  first marriage:  Sanna Aimee Randolph (born 1970) and her husband,  Robert Mathew Lapic of Mill Valley, [[California]], and [[journalist]] Edward G. "Ned" Randolph, III, (born 1971), formerly with ''The Baton Rouge Advocate" who resides with his wife, Dr. Jessica Shank Randolph, in [[San Diego]], California.  Randolph is also the stepfather of Deborah's son, Matthew Alexander Dunn (born 1986) of Baton Rouge.<ref name=findagrave/> ​

Prior to his death in Alexandria at the age of seventy-four, Randolph practiced law and served as the Central Louisiana representative for the state Attorney General's Office.  IRandolph had two children from his  first marriage:  Sanna Aimee Randolph (born 1970) and her husband,  Robert Mathew Lapic of Mill Valley, [[California]], and [[journalist]] Edward G. "Ned" Randolph, III, (born 1971), formerly with ''The Baton Rouge Advocate" who resides with his wife, Dr. Jessica Shank Randolph, in [[San Diego]], California.  Randolph is also the stepfather of Deborah's son, Matthew Alexander Dunn (born 1986) of Baton Rouge.<ref name=findagrave/> ​

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On February 2, 2008, Randolph and his former congressional rival, Richard Baker, were among several individuals inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, north of Alexandria.<re

On February 2, 2008, Randolph and his former congressional rival, Richard Baker, were among several individuals inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, north of Alexandria.​<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame|publisher=louisianapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref>

==References==

==References==