Changes

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated by fellow Democrats Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011) of Shongaloo and Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995) of Minden, respectively. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated by fellow Democrats Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011) of Shongaloo and Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995) of Minden, respectively. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

The other seat at stake was won outright in the primary with 6,904 votes by [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Haynesville, who thereafter was tapped by [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] as the new Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> In the Democratic runoff primary held on December 16, 1967, Garrett remained neutral, and Branton prevailed 7,619 votes (52.6 percent) to McConnell's 6,857 (47.4 percent).<ref>"Branch, Branton, Jack Montgomery Win", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

The other seat at stake was won outright in the primary with 6,904 votes by [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Haynesville, who thereafter was tapped by [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] as the new Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> In the Democratic runoff primary held on December 16, 1967, Garrett remained neutral, and Branton prevailed 7,619 votes (52.6 percent) to McConnell's 6,857 (47.4 percent).<ref>"Branch, Branton, Jack Montgomery Win", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​