Changes

In 2007, Buffington won reelection by defeating [[Alan Seabaugh]], the more [[conservative]] Republican attorney, and subsequent state representative for District 5. She won the primary, 16,665 (53 percent) to Seabaugh's 14,725 (47 percent). De Soto Parish provided most of Buffington's margin of victory. Had the race been restricted to the majority of the precincts in Caddo Parish, Buffington would have won by only 277 votes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Seabaugh told ''The Shreveport Times'' that he had "met Sherri and she seems nice. But she just doesn't represent me. It begins and ends with her voting record. She runs as a Republican and votes like a Democrat."<ref name=prime>John Andrew Prime, "Incumbent Senator Sherri Smith Cheek Faces Attorney Alan Seabaugh," ''The Shreveport Times,'' October 7, 2007.</ref>   

In 2007, Buffington won reelection by defeating [[Alan Seabaugh]], the more [[conservative]] Republican attorney, and subsequent state representative for District 5. She won the primary, 16,665 (53 percent) to Seabaugh's 14,725 (47 percent). De Soto Parish provided most of Buffington's margin of victory. Had the race been restricted to the majority of the precincts in Caddo Parish, Buffington would have won by only 277 votes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Seabaugh told ''The Shreveport Times'' that he had "met Sherri and she seems nice. But she just doesn't represent me. It begins and ends with her voting record. She runs as a Republican and votes like a Democrat."<ref name=prime>John Andrew Prime, "Incumbent Senator Sherri Smith Cheek Faces Attorney Alan Seabaugh," ''The Shreveport Times,'' October 7, 2007.</ref>   

   

   

Buffington served on these Senate committees: (1) Environmental Quality, (2) Finance, (3) Health and Welfare (vice chairman), and (4) Labor and Industrial Relations. She is also the vice chairman of the Select Women's and Children's Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/cheek/assignments.asp|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek -- District 38|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=August 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315153050/http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Cheek/assignments.asp|archivedate=March 15, 2012}}</ref>  

Buffington served on these Senate committees: (1) Environmental Quality, (2) Finance, (3) Health and Welfare (vice chairman), and (4) Labor and Industrial Relations. She is also the vice chairman of the Select Women's and Children's Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315153050/http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Cheek/assignments.asp|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek -- District 38|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref>  

   

   

In 2010, Buffington received a 61 percent rating from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, lower than most Republican legislators. In 2009, the Louisiana Federation of Independent Business rated her 70 percent.  The conservative Louisiana Family Forum rated her 13 percent in 2004, 33 percent in 2006, and 57 percent in 2007. After Buffington defeating Seabaugh, her Family Forum rating moved upward to 78 percent in 2008 and 90 percent in 2010. In 2009, she was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=35537|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> In 2011, Buffington voted against amending the Smoke-free Air Act to bar smoking in restaurants and bars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=35537|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref>

In 2010, Buffington received a 61 percent rating from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, lower than most Republican legislators. In 2009, the Louisiana Federation of Independent Business rated her 70 percent.  The conservative Louisiana Family Forum rated her 13 percent in 2004, 33 percent in 2006, and 57 percent in 2007. After Buffington defeating Seabaugh, her Family Forum rating moved upward to 78 percent in 2008 and 90 percent in 2010. In 2009, she was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=35537|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> In 2011, Buffington voted against amending the Smoke-free Air Act to bar smoking in restaurants and bars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=35537|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref>