Changes

​When the 28-year incumbent representative from District 25, [[Charles DeWitt]], a former [[Speaker]] of the Louisiana House, was term-limited, Roy became the Democratic candidate in the Louisiana general election held on November 17, 2007. In that contest, he defeated the Republican attorney Lance Maxwell, 7,558 (53.5 percent) to 6,570 (46.5 percent). A third candidate, Democrat Glen Beard, a former police chief in Alexandria, had been eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  November 17, 2007.</ref> Maxwell carried the support of the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, a political action committee associated with Republican former [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]]. That group supported Barett Byrd, rather than Harris, in the 2011 primary.<ref name=roy/>​

​When the 28-year incumbent representative from District 25, [[Charles DeWitt]], a former [[Speaker]] of the Louisiana House, was term-limited, Roy became the Democratic candidate in the Louisiana general election held on November 17, 2007. In that contest, he defeated the Republican attorney Lance Maxwell, 7,558 (53.5 percent) to 6,570 (46.5 percent). A third candidate, Democrat Glen Beard, a former police chief in Alexandria, had been eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  November 17, 2007.</ref> Maxwell carried the support of the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, a political action committee associated with Republican former [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]]. That group supported Barett Byrd, rather than Harris, in the 2011 primary.<ref name=roy/>​

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Had he sought a second term in the state House, Roy would have faced two Republicans in the October 22 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], [[Lance Harris]] of Alexandria and Barett Byrd of Woodworth]in south Rapides Parish, a graduate of the [[University of Arkansas]] and a retired colonel in the [[United States Marine Corps]].<ref>"Byrd to seek Louisiana District 25 seat held by Roy," ''The Alexandria  Town Talk,'' July 14, 2011.</ref></ref> Harris, who owns a chain of convenience stores, defeated Byrd in the primary, 7,577 votes  (55.5 percent) to 6,088 (44.6 percent) and succeeded Roy in the state House.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>​  

Had he sought a second term in the state House, Roy would have faced two Republicans in the October 22 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], [[Lance Harris]] of Alexandria and Barett Byrd of Woodworth]in south Rapides Parish, a graduate of the [[University of Arkansas]] and a retired colonel in the [[United States Marine Corps]].<ref>"Byrd to seek Louisiana District 25 seat held by Roy," ''The Alexandria  Town Talk,'' July 14, 2011.</ref> Harris, who owns a chain of convenience stores, defeated Byrd in the primary, 7,577 votes  (55.5 percent) to 6,088 (44.6 percent) and succeeded Roy in the state House.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>​  

Instead, Roy announced his exit from the legislature so that he could spend more "Little League time" with his youngest son, John Roy, a seventh grader in 2011.<ref name=kalb/> Representative Roy also said that he had grown weary of partisan divisions, particularly during recent controversies over congressional [[redistricting]].<ref name=roy>"Rep. Roy opts for family time over running for reelection," ''[[Alexandria Town Talk]],''July 20, 2011.</ref>​ After a series of party switches by Democratic members from increasingly Republican-leaning areas and several [[special election]]s held in 2010 and 2011, Republicans claimed majorities in both legislative chambers for the first time since [[Reconstruction]].<ref>"Republican majority in Louisiana House of Representatives increases," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' March 12, 2011.</ref>​

Instead, Roy announced his exit from the legislature so that he could spend more "Little League time" with his youngest son, John Roy, a seventh grader in 2011.<ref name=kalb/> Representative Roy also said that he had grown weary of partisan divisions, particularly during recent controversies over congressional [[redistricting]].<ref name=roy>"Rep. Roy opts for family time over running for reelection," ''[[Alexandria Town Talk]],''July 20, 2011.</ref>​ After a series of party switches by Democratic members from increasingly Republican-leaning areas and several [[special election]]s held in 2010 and 2011, Republicans claimed majorities in both legislative chambers for the first time since [[Reconstruction]].<ref>"Republican majority in Louisiana House of Representatives increases," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' March 12, 2011.</ref>​

Elliott Stonecipher, a conservative political consultant and pollster from [[Shreveport]], noted that redistricting may have strengthened the slim Republican majorities in the legislature. Senate District 29, then represented by the retiring Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], also of Woodworth, was carved up into a minority district that meanders from south Rapides to Lincoln parishes. Stonecipher said that while the ranks of African-American legislators may increase, the final numbers may not translate into Democrat numerical gains.<ref name=roy/>​

[[Elliott Stonecipher]], a conservative political consultant, [[Demography|demographer]], and pollster from [[Shreveport]], said that redistricting may have strengthened the slim Republican majorities in the legislature. Senate District 29, then represented by the retiring Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], also of Woodworth, was carved up into a minority district that meanders from south Rapides to Lincoln parishes. Stonecipher said that while the ranks of African-American legislators may increase, the final numbers may not translate into Democrat numerical gains.<ref name=roy/>​

==Legislative life==

==Legislative life==