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Wright was first elected to the state House in the fall of 1995 to succeed the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Representative [[Stephen  Gunn]], who later served two nonconsecutive stints as the [[mayor]] of [[rural]] Montgomery in Grant Parish. He defeated fellow Democrat Clifford Zell in the nonpartisan blanket[[ primary]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Gunn, a businessman, served only one term and did not seek reelection. He became the mayor of Montgomery in 200 and again in 2018. In 1999, Wright defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Ira Preuett in the primary, 7,487 votes (52 percent) to  6,823 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>

Wright was first elected to the state House in the fall of 1995 to succeed the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Representative [[Stephen  Gunn]], who later served two nonconsecutive stints as the [[mayor]] of [[rural]] Montgomery in Grant Parish. He defeated fellow Democrat Clifford Zell in the nonpartisan blanket[[ primary]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Gunn, a businessman, served only one term and did not seek reelection. He became the mayor of Montgomery in 200 and again in 2018. In 1999, Wright defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Ira Preuett in the primary, 7,487 votes (52 percent) to  6,823 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>

In 2002, Wright began fund-raising to contest the 5th congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], but in the end he did not enter the race. The seat became open when incumbent Republican John Cooksey, an ophthalmologist from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against [[Mary Landrieu]]. A Democrat, [[Rodney Alexander]], later a Republican convert, narrowly won the position over the Republican [[Lee Fletcher]].​

In 2002, Wright began fund-raising to contest the 5th congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], but in the end he did not enter the race. The seat became open when incumbent Republican [[John Cooksey]], an ophthalmologist from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against [[Mary Landrieu]]. A Democrat, [[Rodney Alexander]], later a Republican convert, narrowly won the position over the Republican [[Lee Fletcher]].​

In 2003, Wright led several opponents in the primary, including former Pineville Mayor [[Floyd Smith]], who had returned to his native Winn Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October4, 2003.</ref> In the [[general election]], Wright dispatched Republican Tony K. Owens (born 1960), also of Jena but then living in of Winnfield. Wright received 6,964 votes (52 percent) to Owens' 6,465 (48 percent) in the 76 precincts in the district.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 15, 2003.</ref>In 2003, the percent breakdown, 52 to 28,  was identical to that in 1999 in Wright's race against Ira Preuett.​

In 2003, Wright led several opponents in the primary, including former Pineville Mayor [[Floyd Smith]], who had returned to his native Winn Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October4, 2003.</ref> In the [[general election]], Wright dispatched Republican Tony K. Owens (born 1960), also of Jena but then living in of Winnfield. Wright received 6,964 votes (52 percent) to Owens' 6,465 (48 percent) in the 76 precincts in the district.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 15, 2003.</ref>In 2003, the percent breakdown, 52 to 28,  was identical to that in 1999 in Wright's race against Ira Preuett.​