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In 1968, Rarick won re-nomination by turning back a primary challenge from state Senator [[J. D. DeBlieux]] of Baton Rouge. DeBlieux (pronounced like the letter "W") was one of the first white politicians in Louisiana to have endorsed the [[civil rights]] agenda. By a 79-21 percent margin, Rarick then defeated the Republican congressional nominee, Loyd J. Rockhold (1922-2010).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, 1968 congressional election returns.</ref>

In 1968, Rarick won re-nomination by turning back a primary challenge from state Senator [[J. D. DeBlieux]] of Baton Rouge. DeBlieux (pronounced like the letter "W") was one of the first white politicians in Louisiana to have endorsed the [[civil rights]] agenda. By a 79-21 percent margin, Rarick then defeated the Republican congressional nominee, Loyd J. Rockhold (1922-2010).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, 1968 congressional election returns.</ref>

In 1968, Rarick supported American Independent Party candidate George Wallace for president against Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]] and Republican [[Richard Nixon. Like the Democratic Representatives Albert William Watson (1922-1994) of [[South Carolina]] and John Bell Williams (1918-1983) of [[Mississippi]]  who had supported Republican [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]] in the 1964 presidential election,  Rarick was also stripped of seniority by the House Democratic Caucus for having openly supported Wallace.<ref name="npr 2007">Thompson Accelerates Pitch to Iowa Voters : NPR|author=Ken Rudin,|title=What the (Joe) Lieberman Endorsement Means—For Him|publisher=[[National Public Radio]]: ''The Political Junkie'' |date=December 19, 2007.</ref>

In 1968, Rarick supported American Independent Party candidate George Wallace for president against Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]] and Republican [[Richard Nixon. Like the Democratic Representatives Albert William Watson (1922-1994) of [[South Carolina]] and John Bell Williams (1918-1983) of [[Mississippi]]  who had supported Republican [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]] in the 1964 presidential election,  Rarick was also stripped of seniority by the House Democratic Caucus for having openly supported Wallace.<ref name="npr 2007">Ken Rudin, "Thompson Accelerates Pitch to Iowa Voters," What the (Joe) Lieberman Endorsement Means—For Him, [[National Public Radio]]:''The Political Junkie'' |date=December 19, 2007.</ref>

Some Democrats were hesitant to discipline Rarick for concern that punitive action might make him a martyr in his district.<ref>"Accent on the News," ''The Milwaukee ([[Wisconsin]]) Journal,'' November 14, 1968.</ref> Representative Richard Walker Bolling (1916-1991) of [[Missouri]] of the House Rules Committee, however, led the move to strip Rarick of his two years of seniority. Rarick depicted himself as one with "political leprosy ... a whipping boy to intimidate older party members, to frighten them ... so they will vote as a unity group."<ref>"Liberals Hit Rarick for Wallace Campaign Support," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],''  January 3, 1969, p. 2.</ref><ref>"Rarick Now Is Last Among House Democrats," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 30, 1969, p. 1.</ref> Since Rarick had only served a single term, the action was largely a symbolic gesture.<ref name="npr 2007"/> Nonetheless, Rarick reportedly considered switching to the Republican Party but never did so. George Wallace carried the 6th district that Rarick represented by 54 percent<ref name="npr 2007"/> and won Louisiana by a plurality vote of 48 percent statewide.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 5, 1968.</ref>

Some Democrats were hesitant to discipline Rarick for concern that punitive action might make him a martyr in his district.<ref>"Accent on the News," ''The Milwaukee ([[Wisconsin]]) Journal,'' November 14, 1968.</ref> Representative Richard Walker Bolling (1916-1991) of [[Missouri]] of the House Rules Committee, however, led the move to strip Rarick of his two years of seniority. Rarick depicted himself as one with "political leprosy ... a whipping boy to intimidate older party members, to frighten them ... so they will vote as a unity group."<ref>"Liberals Hit Rarick for Wallace Campaign Support," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],''  January 3, 1969, p. 2.</ref><ref>"Rarick Now Is Last Among House Democrats," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 30, 1969, p. 1.</ref> Since Rarick had only served a single term, the action was largely a symbolic gesture.<ref name="npr 2007"/> Nonetheless, Rarick reportedly considered switching to the Republican Party but never did so. George Wallace carried the 6th district that Rarick represented by 54 percent<ref name="npr 2007"/> and won Louisiana by a plurality vote of 48 percent statewide.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 5, 1968.</ref>

In 1969, Rarick wrote a lettersupporting the  [[New York City]] Democratic [[mayor]]al candidate Mario Angelo Procaccino (1912-1995) offering to campaign "either for or against you whichever will be more helpful."<ref>"Runnin' Scared," '''The Village Voice,'' August 14, 1969.</ref> Procaccino was thereafter defeated by the incumbent liberal Republican [[John V. Lindsay]], who in 1971 defected to the Democrats and unsuccessfully sought his new party's presidential nomination in 1972.

In 1969, Rarick wrote a letter supporting the  [[New York City]] Democratic [[mayor]]al candidate Mario Angelo Procaccino (1912-1995) offering to campaign "either for or against you whichever will be more helpful."<ref>"Runnin' Scared," '''The Village Voice,'' August 14, 1969.</ref> Procaccino was thereafter defeated by the incumbent liberal Republican [[John V. Lindsay]], who in 1971 defected to the Democrats and unsuccessfully sought his new party's presidential nomination in 1972.

In 1970, Rarick won re-nomination, 57,835 to 40,450, against the liberal Democrat [[Jesse Bankston]] of Baton Rouge, a long-time figure iin the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.<ref>''Louisiana Almanac,'' 2006.</ref>

In 1970, Rarick won re-nomination, 57,835 to 40,450, against the liberal Democrat [[Jesse Bankston]] of Baton Rouge, a long-time figure iin the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.<ref>''Louisiana Almanac,'' 2006.</ref>