Changes

==Party bolt==

==Party bolt==

In 2010, Mills joined several legislative colleagues in switching allegiance from the Democrats to the Republicans.<ref name=barrow>{{cite news|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/2-qualify-for-House-seat.html|author=Bill Barrow|title=St. Martin lawmaker dons GOP garb: Party switch latest in Louisiana trend|date=December 14, 2010|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Others who made the switch in December 2010 were Representative [[Noble Ellington]] of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish and state Senators [[John Alario]] of Westwego in Jefferson Parish, and John R. Smith  of Leesville  in Vernon Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20101209/NEWS01/12090317|title=Ellington considers party switch|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=December 9, 2010|accessdate=December 11, 2010}}</ref>  Though Mills switched parties, he is a [[Moderate Republican]], not a conservative.  

In 2010, Mills joined several legislative colleagues in switching allegiance from the Democrats to the Republicans.<ref name=barrow>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/2-qualify-for-House-seat.html|author=Bill Barrow|title=St. Martin lawmaker dons GOP garb: Party switch latest in Louisiana trend|date=December 14, 2010|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Others who made the switch in December 2010 were Representative [[Noble Ellington]] of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish and state Senators [[John Alario]] of Westwego in Jefferson Parish, and John R. Smith  of Leesville  in Vernon Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20101209/NEWS01/12090317|title=Ellington considers party switch|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=December 9, 2010|accessdate=December 11, 2010}}</ref>  Though Mills switched parties, he is a [[Moderate Republican]], not a conservative.  

Mills polled 12,812 votes in the special Senate election, or 60 percent of the total. The runner-up, [[conservative]] [[Simone Champagne]], then of Jeanerette, another recent Republican convert and formerly a state representative for Iberia Parish, received 4,040 votes (19 percent). Champagne campaigned as a "[[Ronald Reagan|Reagan Republican]]" and had the open support of [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]]. Independent David Groner finished third with 2,534 votes (12 percent). The remaining ballots favoredtwo other Republican candidates and a second Independent hopeful. No Democrats sought the position.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 22, 2011.</ref>

Mills polled 12,812 votes in the special Senate election, or 60 percent of the total. The runner-up, [[conservative]] [[Simone Champagne]], then of Jeanerette, another recent Republican convert and formerly a state representative for Iberia Parish, received 4,040 votes (19 percent). Champagne campaigned as a "[[Ronald Reagan|Reagan Republican]]" and had the open support of [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]]. Independent David Groner finished third with 2,534 votes (12 percent). The remaining ballots favoredtwo other Republican candidates and a second Independent hopeful. No Democrats sought the position.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 22, 2011.</ref>