Changes

In the [[general election]] held on November 19, 2011, Cox unseated the one-term [[Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent, [[Rick Nowlin]] of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], who subsequently was elected a year later in 2012 as the first administrative President of Natchitoches Parish. Cox polled 5,556 votes (53.4 percent) to Nowlin's 4,847 (46.6 percent). Nowlin managed to carry Natchitoches Parish but lost decisively to Cox in DeSoto and Red River parishes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>  

In the [[general election]] held on November 19, 2011, Cox unseated the one-term [[Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent, [[Rick Nowlin]] of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], who subsequently was elected a year later in 2012 as the first administrative President of Natchitoches Parish. Cox polled 5,556 votes (53.4 percent) to Nowlin's 4,847 (46.6 percent). Nowlin managed to carry Natchitoches Parish but lost decisively to Cox in DeSoto and Red River parishes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>  

In the October 22 primary, Nowlin had narrowly led with 5,662 votes (43.6 percent), and Cox trailed with 5,506 votes (42.4 percent). Another Democrat, Ralph Wilson, who also sought the seat in 2007, held the remaining but critical 1,805 ballots (13.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Nowlin's defeat is attributed in part to his District 23 having  become a majority African- American district in the 2011 [[redistricting]] based upon the 2010 [[census]].<ref>"Hazel re-elected in House Distrrict 27; Harris wins House District 25," ''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' October 23, 2011.</ref>

In the October 22 primary, Nowlin had narrowly led with 5,662 votes (43.6 percent), and Cox trailed with 5,506 votes (42.4 percent). Another Democrat, Ralph Wilson, who also sought the seat in 2007, held the remaining but critical 1,805 ballots (13.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Nowlin's defeat is attributed in part to his District 23 having  become a majority African- American district in the 2011 [[redistricting]] based upon the 2010 [[census]].<ref>"Hazel re-elected in House Distrrict 27; Harris wins House District 25," ''[[Alexandria Town Talk]],'' October 23, 2011.</ref>

In 2007, Cox ran unsuccessfully in House District 7 against the Republican [[Richard Burford]] of Stonewall in DeSoto Parish, who was subsequently re-elected in the 2011 primary and became for a time a colleague of Cox. Burford left the House ro run unsuccessfully for the state Senate seat vacated by the term-limited [[Moderate Republican]], [[Sherri Smith Buffington]].

In 2007, Cox ran unsuccessfully in House District 7 against the Republican [[Richard Burford]] of Stonewall in DeSoto Parish, who was subsequently re-elected in the 2011 primary and became for a time a colleague of Cox. Burford left the House ro run unsuccessfully for the state Senate seat vacated by the term-limited [[Moderate Republican]], [[Sherri Smith Buffington]].