Changes

| term_start=1992​

| term_start=1992​

| term_end=2001​

| term_end=2001​

| preceded=Edward Clark Gaudin​

| preceded=[[E. Clark Gaudine|Edward Clark Gaudin]]​

| succeeded=[[Gary Beard]]

| succeeded=[[Gary Beard]]

| office2=Louisiana State Republican Chairman​

| office2=Louisiana State Republican Chairman​

In the second balloting on November 16, 1991, McMains defeated Talbot, 7,015 (53 percent) to 6,314 (47 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> McMains was reelected in the 1995 primary with 10,502 votes (87 percent) to the Democrat Tommy L. Reese's 1,524 ballots (13 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>McMains was unopposed for his third term in 1999<ref>​Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref>

In the second balloting on November 16, 1991, McMains defeated Talbot, 7,015 (53 percent) to 6,314 (47 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> McMains was reelected in the 1995 primary with 10,502 votes (87 percent) to the Democrat Tommy L. Reese's 1,524 ballots (13 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>McMains was unopposed for his third term in 1999<ref>​Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref>

A  reform legislator, McMains became the House floor leader for Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] In that role, McMains championed a comprehensive legislative package attacking abuses in Louisiana's civil justice system. Among other measures, his bills repealed punitive damages, strict liability, and joint and several liability. He also authored a comprehensive revision of Louisiana's class action articles and eliminated litigation instituted by [[New Orleans]] [[Mayor]]  Marc Morial, which sought to curtail the [[Second Amendment]]. McMains was also heavily involved in "Progress Louisiana," Foster's effort to replace Michael Gordon "Mike" Francis as the chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. McMains briefly served as party chairman himself in 2000. McMains resigned from the legislature midway through his third term in the summer of 2001 to join the law firm of Jones Walker in its Baton Rouge office. McMains and Foster supported David Boneno, a member of the Baton Rouge metro council, as McMains' successor. Boneno, however, was defeated, 60 to 40 percent, by Gary James Beard, who ran on an anti-tax platform and also carried the support of the [[Christian Coalition]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, ​August 18, 2001.</ref>

A  reform legislator, McMains became the House floor leader for Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] In that role, McMains championed a comprehensive legislative package attacking abuses in Louisiana's civil justice system. Among other measures, his bills repealed punitive damages, strict liability, and joint and several liability. He also authored a comprehensive revision of Louisiana's class action articles and eliminated litigation instituted by [[New Orleans]] [[Mayor]]  Marc Morial, which sought to curtail the [[Second Amendment]]. McMains was also heavily involved in "Progress Louisiana," Foster's effort to replace Michael Gordon "Mike" Francis as the chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. McMains briefly served as party chairman himself in 2000. McMains resigned from the legislature midway through his third term in the summer of 2001 to join the law firm of Jones Walker in its Baton Rouge office. McMains and Foster supported David Boneno, a member of the Baton Rouge metro council, as McMains' successor. Boneno, however, was defeated, 60 to 40 percent, by [[Gary Beard|Gary James Beard]], who ran on an anti-tax platform and also carried the support of the [[Christian Coalition]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, ​August 18, 2001.</ref>

In the U.S. Senate election held on September 21, 1996, McMains polled 45,164 votes (4 percent) in a 15-candidate field. The top two vote-getters, Republican [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge and Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] of [[New Orleans]]<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 21, 1996.</ref> then competed in the November general election. Landrieu narrowly emerged as the disputed winner and began the first of three terms in the Senate.

In the U.S. Senate election held on September 21, 1996, McMains polled 45,164 votes (4 percent) in a 15-candidate field. The top two vote-getters, Republican [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge and Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] of [[New Orleans]]<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 21, 1996.</ref> then competed in the November general election. Landrieu narrowly emerged as the disputed winner and began the first of three terms in the Senate.