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Ellender served in the upper house of Congress from 1937 until his death in the summer of 1972. At the time he was campaigning for yet another term in the Senate. Ellender was succeeded by interim Senator [[Elaine Edwards]], the first wife of then Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. His permanent successor was his chief primary rival in 1972, former state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], who held the U.S. Senate seat until his retirement in January 1997. Johnston had also been Edwin Edwards' rival for the 1971 Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Ellender served in the upper house of Congress from 1937 until his death in the summer of 1972. At the time he was campaigning for yet another term in the Senate. Ellender was succeeded by interim Senator [[Elaine Edwards]], the first wife of then Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. His permanent successor was his chief primary rival in 1972, former state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], who held the U.S. Senate seat until his retirement in January 1997. Johnston had also been Edwin Edwards' rival for the 1971 Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Following the 1946 Senate election in [[Mississippi]] where [[segregation]]ist demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] intimidated and threatened black voters during the campaign in his re-election, Senate Republicans, who just gained a bare majority in the election cycle, moved to block him from being seated.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''senate.gov''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> Ellender defended the racist [[voter suppression]] and attempted to dismiss the charges, and gridlock ensued. Bilbo, suffering from oral cancer after decades of inciting violence and promoting bigotry, never returned to the Senate and died in August 1947.

Following the 1946 Senate election in [[Mississippi]] where [[segregation]]ist demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] intimidated and threatened blacks, most of whom then were not then voters, Senate Republicans, who just gained a bare majority in the election cycle, moved to block him from being seated.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''senate.gov''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> Ellender defended the racist [[voter suppression]] and attempted to dismiss the charges, and gridlock ensued. Bilbo, suffering from oral cancer after decades of inciting violence and promoting bigotry, never returned to the Senate and died in August 1947.

In 1948, when other Southern Democrats defected to the [[Dixiecrat]] presidential campaign of [[Strom Thurmond]], Ellender remained loyal to [[Harry S. Truman]].  Although Thurmond was the official Democratic nominee in Louisiana, Truman's name was also added to the ballot by a special session of the state legislature.

In 1948, when other Southern Democrats defected to the [[Dixiecrat]] presidential campaign of [[Strom Thurmond]], Ellender remained loyal to [[Harry S. Truman]].  Although Thurmond was the official Democratic nominee in Louisiana, Truman's name was also added to the ballot by a special session of the state legislature.