Changes

===State senate race, 1996===

===State senate race, 1996===

When Republican Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy James  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], named Democratic state Senator [[Cecil Picard]] as education secretary, a special election was held on August 24, 1996, to begin the process of choosing Picard's state senate successor. State Representative [[Gerald Theunissen]], a Democrat who later switched to Republican affiliation, led the contest with 7,086 votes (29.5 percent). Francis, still state party chairman and the only Republican among the six candidates, finished in second place with 6,112 votes (25.5 percent). Four other Democrats shared the remaining but crucial 45 percent of the ballots.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Special election returns, August 24, 1996.</ref> In the runoff election on September 21, Theunissen defeated Francis, 20,320 (55.7 percent) to 16,172 (44.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  September 21, 1996.</ref>

When Republican Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy James  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], named Democratic state Senator [[Cecil Picard]] as education secretary, a special election was held on August 24, 1996, to begin the process of choosing Picard's state senate successor. State Representative [[Gerald J. Theunissen]], a Democrat who later switched to Republican affiliation, led the contest with 7,086 votes (29.5 percent). Francis, still state party chairman and the only Republican among the six candidates, finished in second place with 6,112 votes (25.5 percent). Four other Democrats shared the remaining but crucial 45 percent of the ballots.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Special election returns, August 24, 1996.</ref> In the runoff election on September 21, Theunissen defeated Francis, 20,320 (55.7 percent) to 16,172 (44.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  September 21, 1996.</ref>

==Campaign for Secretary of State==

==Campaign for Secretary of State==