Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

In 1968, Leach was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in a two-member district with fellow Democrat [[E. Holman Jones]] of Oakdale in Allen Parish. Leach was reelected in 1972 and 1976. In 1979, he gave up his seat to run for Congress. He served only one term as a U.S. congressman, having been defeated in the 1980 election by [[Buddy Roemer]], later a one-term governor of the state. In 1983, Leach sought to regain his former state legislative seat.<ref>"Leach will try again for La. House seat," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' March 23, 1983, p. 1.</ref> He unseated the incumbent Democrat, William H. West. In his last term as a state legislator, Leach served on the House Ways and Means committee. In this capacity, he recommended that a tax be placed on foreign oil processed within the state.<ref name=Biography /><ref name="Capitol Watch" />

In 1968, Leach was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in a two-member district with fellow Democrat [[E. Holman Jones]] of Oakdale in Allen Parish. Leach was reelected in 1972 and 1976. In 1979, he gave up his seat to run for Congress. He served only one term as a U.S. congressman, having been defeated in the 1980 election by [[Buddy Roemer]], later a one-term governor of the state. In 1983, Leach sought to regain his former state legislative seat.<ref>"Leach will try again for La. House seat," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' March 23, 1983, p. 1.</ref> He unseated the incumbent Democrat, William H. West. In his last term as a state legislator, Leach served on the House Ways and Means committee. In this capacity, he recommended that a tax be placed on foreign oil processed within the state.<ref name=Biography/><ref name="Capitol Watch"/>

In 2003, Leach launched his gubernatorial campaign in which he advocated fundamentally changing the way state government operated. He suggested that the state use a "brillo pad" to "scrub the budget." Health care was among his priorities. Many young voters were attracted to his campaign's message. He had teams of volunteers set up in [[Shreveport]], Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.<ref name="Capitol Watch" /> Many other candidates were in the race, including Democrats [[Kathleen Blanco]] and [[Richard Ieyoub]]. Republicans ran [[Bobby Jindal]] as an alternative choice for voters. In the end, Leach came in fourth place behind Richard Ieyoub, Kathleen Blanco, and Bobby Jindal, respectively. Kathleen Blanco went on to win the general election and serve a single term, as she was unseated in 2007 by Bobby Jindal.

In 2003, Leach launched his gubernatorial campaign in which he advocated fundamentally changing the way state government operated. He suggested that the state use a "brillo pad" to "scrub the budget." Health care was among his priorities. Many young voters were attracted to his campaign's message. He had teams of volunteers set up in [[Shreveport]], Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.<ref name="Capitol Watch" /> Many other candidates were in the race, including Democrats [[Kathleen Blanco]] and [[Richard Ieyoub]]. Republicans ran [[Bobby Jindal]] as an alternative choice for voters. In the end, Leach came in fourth place behind Richard Ieyoub, Kathleen Blanco, and Bobby Jindal, respectively. Kathleen Blanco went on to win the general election and serve a single term, as she was unseated in 2007 by Bobby Jindal.

In 2010, Leach won a special election for the chairmanship of his state's Democratic Party.<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite web|last=Deslatte|first=Melinda|title=Louisiana Democratic Party chairman wants to retain post|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/louisiana_democratic_party_cha_1.html|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> During his tenure as chairman, the party struggled to field candidates for statewide offices.<ref name=Rebuild>{{cite web|last=Deslatte|first=Melinda|title=Louisiana Democrats look to rebuild grassroots base|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/12/louisiana_democrats_look_to_re.html|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> The party was unable to find a well-funded candidate to run in 2011 against Governor Jindal. For the first time since [[Reconstruction]] Democrats lost both houses of the state legislature to Republicans. On April 28, 2012, Leach lost his reelection bid as state party chair.<ref name=Anderson />

In 2010, Leach won a special election for the chairmanship of his state's Democratic Party.<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite web|author=Melinda Deslatte|title=Louisiana Democratic Party chairman wants to retain post|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/louisiana_democratic_party_cha_1.html|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> During his tenure as chairman, the party struggled to field candidates for statewide offices.<ref name=Rebuild>{{cite web|last=Deslatte|first=Melinda|title=Louisiana Democrats look to rebuild grassroots base|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/12/louisiana_democrats_look_to_re.html|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> The party was unable to find a well-funded candidate to run in 2011 against Governor Jindal. For the first time since [[Reconstruction]] Democrats lost both houses of the state legislature to Republicans. On April 28, 2012, Leach lost his reelection bid as state party chair.<ref name=Anderson />

Though the Republicans hold legislative majorities still, they are crippled by twenty-three House members who rejected the conservative candidate for Speaker in 2020 and often side with Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. The group is known as the [[Louisiana Republican Fraud Squad]].

Though the Republicans hold legislative majorities still, they are crippled by twenty-three House members who rejected the conservative candidate for Speaker in 2020 and often side with Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. The group is known as the [[Louisiana Republican Fraud Squad]].