Changes

In 1940, Cawthorn was elected as the state senator for a district encompassing both DeSoto and the neighboring and much larger Caddo Parish.

In 1940, Cawthorn was elected as the state senator for a district encompassing both DeSoto and the neighboring and much larger Caddo Parish.

<ref>{{cite web|url=  ​http://senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/1880membership.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-2024 (Caddo and DeSoto parishes)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=June 16, 2020}}</ref> In his one term, during the administration of [[Governor]] [[Sam Houston Jones]], Cawthorn chaired the Senate Finance Committee but became a persistent critic of Jones, after Jones split politically with former Governor [[James A. Noe]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], Cawthorn's political mentor. Cawthorn accused Jones of "waste and inefficiency" in state government.<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' January 10, February 11, 1942.

<ref>{{cite web|url=  ​http://senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/1880membership.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-2024 (Caddo and DeSoto parishes)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=June 16, 2020}}</ref> In his one term, during the administration of [[Governor]] [[Sam Houston Jones]], Cawthorn chaired the Senate Finance Committee but became a persistent critic of Jones, after Jones split politically with former Governor [[James A. Noe]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], Cawthorn's political mentor. Cawthorn accused Jones of "waste and inefficiency" in state government.<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' January 10, February 11, 1942</ref>

In 1944, Cawthorn did not seek re-election to the state Senate but instead ran a strong though unsuccessful race for attorney general of Louisiana against fellow Democrat Fred Saugrain LeBlanc, Sr. (1897-1969) of [[Baton Rouge]], who carried the backing of the successful gubernatorial nominee, [[Jimmie Davis]]. Known for his singing career too, Davis was elected that year to the first of his two non-consecutive gubernatorial terms. By then, Cawthorn was allied with [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/12966755/|title=Louisiana election returns|publisher=''Miam (Oklahoma) Daily News''|date=March 1, 1944|page=3|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref> the former and future governor who ran unsuccessfully in 1944 for lieutenant  governor, a post that Long had also held from 1936 to 1939 under then Governor Richard Webster Leche. Cawthorn and other Long-endorsed candidates had led in the first primary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/11888020/|title=Return Of Long Faction in Louisiana|publisher=''Big Spring (Texas)Daily Herald''|date=January 19, 1944|page=7|accessdate=June 16, 2020}}</ref> but fell short in the runoff election as [[J. Emile Verret]] of Iberia Parish defeated Long for lieutenant governor.

In 1944, Cawthorn did not seek re-election to the state Senate but instead ran a strong though unsuccessful race for attorney general of Louisiana against fellow Democrat Fred Saugrain LeBlanc, Sr. (1897-1969) of [[Baton Rouge]], who carried the backing of the successful gubernatorial nominee, [[Jimmie Davis]]. Known for his singing career too, Davis was elected that year to the first of his two non-consecutive gubernatorial terms. By then, Cawthorn was allied with [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/12966755/|title=Louisiana election returns|publisher=''Miam (Oklahoma) Daily News''|date=March 1, 1944|page=3|accessdate=June 18, 2020}}</ref> the former and future governor who ran unsuccessfully in 1944 for lieutenant  governor, a post that Long had also held from 1936 to 1939 under then Governor Richard Webster Leche. Cawthorn and other Long-endorsed candidates had led in the first primary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/11888020/|title=Return Of Long Faction in Louisiana|publisher=''Big Spring (Texas)Daily Herald''|date=January 19, 1944|page=7|accessdate=June 16, 2020}}</ref> but fell short in the runoff election as [[J. Emile Verret]] of Iberia Parish defeated Long for lieutenant governor.