Changes

When [[redistricting]] turned against him, Speedy Long did not seek a fifth term in 1972 but instead ran for district attorney in LaSalle Parish. Gillis Long, who had resumed his private law practice, instead ran to reclaim the seat; his task was alleviated by a former gubernatorial opponent and a former congressional colleague, Governor Edwards, who supported a districting plan that required the 8th district to take in new liberal territory far to the south of Alexandria. After Long was eliminated in the first round of the 1971 gubernatorial primary, Edwards made Long this promise to siphon Long's voters from potentially supporting intra-party rival Johnston. Edwards won the runoff against Johnston by 4,488 votes.​

When [[redistricting]] turned against him, Speedy Long did not seek a fifth term in 1972 but instead ran for district attorney in LaSalle Parish. Gillis Long, who had resumed his private law practice, instead ran to reclaim the seat; his task was alleviated by a former gubernatorial opponent and a former congressional colleague, Governor Edwards, who supported a districting plan that required the 8th district to take in new liberal territory far to the south of Alexandria. After Long was eliminated in the first round of the 1971 gubernatorial primary, Edwards made Long this promise to siphon Long's voters from potentially supporting intra-party rival Johnston. Edwards won the runoff against Johnston by 4,488 votes.​

In his bid to return to Congress, Long won the Democratic nomination with more than 54 percent of the vote over four opponents, including state Representative Armand Brinkhaus, a lawyer from Sunset in St. Landry Parish, and state Senator J. E. Jumonville, Sr., of Ventress in Pointe Coupee Parish]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=236162|title=Louisiana District 8 - D Primary|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=May 23, 2014}}</ref> Long then handily defeated in the [[general election]] (1) the surgeon Dr. Samuel R. Abramson of Marksville, the American Party nominee, who ran second in the general election, and (2) the Republican [[Roy C. Strickland]], then a trucking executive in Ascension Parish and later a businessman in The Woodlands, [[Texas]]. Long polled 72,607 votes (68.6 percent), to Abramson's 17,844 (16.8 percent), and Strickland's 15,517 (14.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=56967|title=LA District 8|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=May 23, 2014}}</ref>

In his bid to return to Congress, Long won the Democratic nomination with more than 54 percent of the vote over four opponents, including state Representative [[Armand Brinkhaus]], a lawyer from Sunset in St. Landry Parish, and state Senator J. E. Jumonville, Sr., of Ventress in Pointe Coupee Parish]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=236162|title=Louisiana District 8 - D primary|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=May 23, 2014}}</ref> Long then handily defeated in the [[general election]] (1) the surgeon Dr. Samuel R. Abramson of Marksville, the American Party nominee, who ran second in the general election, and (2) the Republican [[Roy C. Strickland]], then a trucking executive in Ascension Parish and later a businessman in The Woodlands, [[Texas]]. Long polled 72,607 votes (68.6 percent), to Abramson's 17,844 (16.8 percent), and Strickland's 15,517 (14.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=56967|title=LA District 8|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=May 23, 2014}}</ref>

Dr. Abramson, who had backed [[George Wallace]] for U.S. President in 1968, was also critical of Republicans. After [[Richard M. Nixon]]'s election as president, Abramson noted that the new administration renewed Democratic former President Lyndon B. Johnson's 10-percent surtax and used the withdrawal of federal education funds as leverage to compel massive school desegregation. Abramson borrowed from Wallace's line to remark, "there's not nine cents worth of difference between the two major parties."<ref>"Wallace Party Still Claims No Difference," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 16, 1969, p. 1.</ref>​

Dr. Abramson, who had backed [[George Wallace]] for U.S. President in 1968, was also critical of Republicans. After [[Richard M. Nixon]]'s election as president, Abramson noted that the new administration renewed Democratic former President Lyndon B. Johnson's 10-percent surtax and used the withdrawal of federal education funds as leverage to compel massive school desegregation. Abramson borrowed from Wallace's line to remark, "there's not nine cents worth of difference between the two major parties."<ref>"Wallace Party Still Claims No Difference," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 16, 1969, p. 1.</ref>​