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Francis promised, if elected, that he would take a business approach to the secretary of state's office and work to create jobs and to ensure "clean elections," for which he noted Louisiana had formerly been lacking, particularly the disputed 1996 U.S. Senate race between Republican [[Woody Jenkins]] and Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]].

Francis promised, if elected, that he would take a business approach to the secretary of state's office and work to create jobs and to ensure "clean elections," for which he noted Louisiana had formerly been lacking, particularly the disputed 1996 U.S. Senate race between Republican [[Woody Jenkins]] and Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]].

Francis lost the race for Secretary of State to John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne, Jr., an [[attorney]] born in 1954 and a state senator from [[Baton Rouge]], one of most visible [[Moderate Republicans]] in the state.. The election was held to finish the fifteen months remaining in the term of Republican Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005).  [[Al Ater]], a Democratic former state representative from Ferriday in Concordia Parish, had succeeded to the position because he was Fox McKeithen's first deputy. The special election was held in conjunction with the primary for other offices contested in 2006.<ref>Ex-GOP chief running for secretary of state (kplctv.com), accessed April 27, 2021.</ref>

Francis lost the race for Secretary of State to John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne, Jr., an [[attorney]] born in 1954 and a state senator from [[Baton Rouge]], one of most visible [[Moderate Republicans]] in the state.. The election was held to finish the fifteen months remaining in the term of Republican Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005).  [[Al Ater]], a Democratic former state representative from Ferriday in Concordia Parish, had succeeded to the position because he was McKeithen's first deputy. The special election was held in conjunction with the primary for other offices contested in 2006.<ref>Ex-GOP chief running for secretary of state (kplctv.com), accessed April 27, 2021.</ref>

Francis finished third in the race, based largely on his support in mostly rural and small-town parishes in his native north Louisiana. He received 26 percent of the vote. Democratic state Senator Francis C. Heitmeier of [[New Orleans]] polled 28 percent, and Dardenne led the field with 30 percent. None of the other four candidates had more than 9 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 30, 2006.</ref>

Francis finished third in the race, based largely on his support in mostly rural and small-town parishes in his native north Louisiana. He received 26 percent of the vote. Democratic state Senator Francis C. Heitmeier of [[New Orleans]] polled 28 percent, and Dardenne led the field with 30 percent. None of the other four candidates had more than 9 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 30, 2006.</ref>

According to campaign finance reports, Dardenne raised $722,631; Francis, $149,637 and added $70,000 of his own funds for a total of $219,650. In his unsuccessful race, Francis carried the support of the failed 2008 presidential candidate, U. S. Senator [[John McCain]], a Moderate Republican from [[Arizona]].

According to campaign finance reports, Dardenne raised $722,631; Francis, $149,637 and added $70,000 of his own funds for a total of $219,650. In his unsuccessful race, Francis carried the support of the failed 2008 presidential candidate, U. S. Senator [[John McCain]], a Moderate Republican from [[Arizona]].

==References==

==References==