Changes

In 2015, Cathey was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the state Senate in District 35. He lost to former state Representative [[James R. Fannin]] of Jackson Parish, who in turn was unseated from his Senate position in 2019 by state Representative [[Jay Morris]]. When Cathey switched to District 33 to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Michael Arthur Walsworth (born 1956), he faced an intra-party challenge from Wade Bishop, a West Monroe businessman. Cathey prevailed in the [[primary]], 16,658 votes (52 percent) to Bishop's 15,407 (48 percent). Walsworth instead ran unsuccessfully for the position of Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court having been defeated by an [[Independent]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12 and November 16, 2019.</ref>

In 2015, Cathey was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the state Senate in District 35. He lost to former state Representative [[James R. Fannin]] of Jackson Parish, who in turn was unseated from his Senate position in 2019 by state Representative [[Jay Morris]]. When Cathey switched to District 33 to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Michael Arthur Walsworth (born 1956), he faced an intra-party challenge from Wade Bishop, a West Monroe businessman. Cathey prevailed in the [[primary]], 16,658 votes (52 percent) to Bishop's 15,407 (48 percent). Walsworth instead ran unsuccessfully for the position of Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court having been defeated by an [[Independent]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12 and November 16, 2019.</ref>

In May 2021, Cathey, who campaigned two years earlier as a [[conservative]], joined four other North Louisiana state senators previously considered conservatives, [[Barrow Peacock]], [[Jay Morris]], [[Barry Milligan]], [[Mike Reese]], and [[Robert Mills]], in voting to extend a $400 million temporary state sales tax of .45 percent even though the state is awaiting a windfall in federal [[coronavirus]] stimulus funding. The Republicans stood for tax increases, but the Democratic Senator [[Greg Tarver]] of [[Shreveport]], pposed the tax extension.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 28, 2021.</ref>

In May 2021, Cathey, who campaigned two years earlier as a [[conservative]], joined four other North Louisiana state senators previously considered conservatives, [[Barrow Peacock]], [[Jay Morris]], [[Barry Milligan]], [[Mike Reese]], and [[Robert Mills]], in voting to extend a $400 million temporary state sales tax of .45 percent even though the state is awaiting a windfall in federal [[coronavirus]] stimulus funding. The Republicans stood for tax increases, but the Democratic Senator [[Greg Tarver]] of [[Shreveport]], opposed the tax extension.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 28, 2021.</ref>

Conservative commentator [[Moon Griffon]], who urged voters to elect Cathey and defeat Jim Fannin in 2019, now says that he has no relat8onsh8p with the now elusive Cathey, whom Griffon said walked away from him at a meeting which both were attending.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' June 1, 2021.</ref>

Conservative commentator [[Moon Griffon]], who urged voters to elect Cathey and defeat Jim Fannin in 2019, now says that he has no relat8onsh8p with the now elusive Cathey, whom Griffon said walked away from him at a meeting which both were attending.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' June 1, 2021.</ref>