Changes

In the race to succeed Davis, a runoff was held on April 24 between Democrat Cassie Williams of [[Bossier City]] and Republican Michael Melerine, a [[Shreveport]] attorney, who polled in the primary, respectively, 10,764 votes (29 percent) to 10,359 (28 percent). The third-placed candidate, Shelly McFarland (born 1975), the wife of Republican state Representative Jack McFarland of Winnfield, finished with 8,250 votes (22 percent). She ran with a commitment to teacher pay raises but did not address the issue of school choice. Jack McFarland, meanwhile, is seeking to raise the state [[gasoline]] tax by four cents to fund highway projects.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehayride.com/2020/12/sadow-jack-mcfarland-and-gas-tax-shelly-mcfarland-and-bese/|title=Jack McFarland and Gas Tax, Shelly McFarland and BESE|date=December 1, 2020|accessdate=December 4, 2020|author=Jeffrey D. Sadow|publisher=''The Hayride''}}</ref> In fourth place in the primary tabulation was former state Senator [[John Milkovich]] of Shreveport, who received 5,843 votes (16 percent). Turnout in the race was just 9.7 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 20, 2021.</ref>

In the race to succeed Davis, a runoff was held on April 24 between Democrat Cassie Williams of [[Bossier City]] and Republican Michael Melerine, a [[Shreveport]] attorney, who polled in the primary, respectively, 10,764 votes (29 percent) to 10,359 (28 percent). The third-placed candidate, Shelly McFarland (born 1975), the wife of Republican state Representative Jack McFarland of Winnfield, finished with 8,250 votes (22 percent). She ran with a commitment to teacher pay raises but did not address the issue of school choice. Jack McFarland, meanwhile, is seeking to raise the state [[gasoline]] tax by four cents to fund highway projects.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehayride.com/2020/12/sadow-jack-mcfarland-and-gas-tax-shelly-mcfarland-and-bese/|title=Jack McFarland and Gas Tax, Shelly McFarland and BESE|date=December 1, 2020|accessdate=December 4, 2020|author=Jeffrey D. Sadow|publisher=''The Hayride''}}</ref> In fourth place in the primary tabulation was former state Senator [[John Milkovich]] of Shreveport, who received 5,843 votes (16 percent). Turnout in the race was just 9.7 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 20, 2021.</ref>

In the runoff contest, Mellerine defeated Williams.

In the runoff contest, Mellerine defeated Williams, 23,541 votes (62 percent) to 14,546 (38 percent).<ref<Louisiana Secretary of State, Special election returns, April 24, 2021.</ref>

 

==References==

==References==

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