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In his first legislative term, Patten succeeded [[William S. Peck, Jr.]], of Sicily Island and represented only Catahoula Parish. He was reelected to a second term in 1968 from a revised district which combined Catahoula and neighboring Concordia parishes. The [[incumbent]] from Concordia Parish, [[Fred Schiele]],<ref name=legis>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Catahoula and Concordia parishes)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 8, 2020}}</ref> did not seek a second term but later served as the [[sheriff]] of his parish.

In his first legislative term, Patten succeeded [[William S. Peck, Jr.]], of Sicily Island and represented only Catahoula Parish. He was reelected to a second term in 1968 from a revised district which combined Catahoula and neighboring Concordia parishes. The [[incumbent]] from Concordia Parish, [[Fred Schiele]],<ref name=legis>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Catahoula and Concordia parishes)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 8, 2020}}</ref> did not seek a second term but later served as the [[sheriff]] of his parish.

Patten's interest focused on [[rural]] development. In 1972, in the newly numbered District 21, Patten was unseated by outgoing state Senator "Sonny" Gilbert, a brother-in-law of William Peck, who ran that year for the House, rather than the Senate. Patten attempted a comeback in the Catahoula-Concordia district on November 1, 1975, in the first-ever nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held in Louisiana and had the support of the Catahoula Parish [[sheriff]]. Gilbert did not seek reelection to the House. Patten lost in the official [[general election]], 57-43 percent, to Democrat [[Dan Richey]], then of Ferriday in Concordia Parish. Another candidate was the Democrat [[Troyce Guice]], then of Ferriday, who had run unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in 1966 and again in 1996. Both Gilbert and Richey switched their affiliation to [[Republican Party|Republican]] after their legislative tenure.

Patten's interest focused on [[rural]] development. In 1972, in the newly numbered District 21, Patten was unseated by outgoing state Senator "Sonny" Gilbert, a brother-in-law of William Peck, who ran that year for the House, rather than the Senate. Patten attempted a comeback in the Catahoula-Concordia district on November 1, 1975, in the first-ever nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held in Louisiana and had the support of the Catahoula Parish [[sheriff]]. Gilbert did not seek reelection to the House. Patten lost in the official [[general election]], 57-43 percent, to Democrat [[Dan Richey]], then of Ferriday in Concordia Parish and since a resident of [[Baton Rouge]]. Another candidate was the Democrat [[Troyce Guice]], then of Ferriday, who had run unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in 1966 and again in 1996. Both Gilbert and Richey switched their affiliation to [[Republican Party|Republican]] after their legislative tenure.

Patten ran unsuccessfully for Louisiana's 5th congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. In the Democratic primaries of both 1970 and 1972, he was soundly defeated by the incumbent, [[Otto Passman]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]],<ref>''Louisiana Almanac,'' 2006.</ref> known as a critic of foreign aid who lost his seat in 1976 to fellow Democrat Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby.

Patten ran unsuccessfully for Louisiana's 5th congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. In the Democratic primaries of both 1970 and 1972, he was soundly defeated by the incumbent, [[Otto Passman]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]],<ref>''Louisiana Almanac,'' 2006.</ref> known as a critic of foreign aid who lost his seat in 1976 to fellow Democrat Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby.