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On September 30, 2006, Cain was defeated in a [[special election]] for state [[insurance]] commissioner by his fellow Republican [[Jim Donelon]] of [[suburb]]an Jefferson Parish, who had succeeded to the position in 2006 on the resignation of J. Robert Wooley, a Democrat from Baton Rouge elected in 2003 but who had been acting commissioner from 2000 to 2003. Donelon won reelection in the nonpartisan  blanket primary on October 12, 2019. In that race, Cain charged that Donelon, also a former Democrat, was insufficiently committed to Republican and [[conservative]] principles. However, Donelon pointed out that he had been a Republican for some twenty years longer than Cain and had carried the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] standard in several important elections, including the [[U.S. Senate]] race in 1998 against the popular incumbent Democrat Senator John Breaux, when other Republicans were unwilling to commit to the challenge.​

On September 30, 2006, Cain was defeated in a [[special election]] for state [[insurance]] commissioner by his fellow Republican [[Jim Donelon]] of [[suburb]]an Jefferson Parish, who had succeeded to the position in 2006 on the resignation of J. Robert Wooley, a Democrat from Baton Rouge elected in 2003 but who had been acting commissioner from 2000 to 2003. Donelon won reelection in the nonpartisan  blanket primary on October 12, 2019. In that race, Cain charged that Donelon, also a former Democrat, was insufficiently committed to Republican and [[conservative]] principles. However, Donelon pointed out that he had been a Republican for some twenty years longer than Cain and had carried the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] standard in several important elections, including the [[U.S. Senate]] race in 1998 against the popular incumbent Democrat Senator John Breaux, when other Republicans were unwilling to commit to the challenge.​

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Cain unveiled a five-point plan to bring "integrity, efficiency, and accountability" to the insurance office. He accused Donelon, with whom he had served in the state House, of having billied the state $50 per hour to attend birthday and retirement parties as well as fundraising galas. He charged that Donelon was not working with insurance companies, such as Allstate, which were threatening to leave Louisiana because of the lack of return. Cain won high-powered endorsements, including former [[Governor]] [[Buddy RoemerI]], Republican financier Donald T. Bollinger, and [[Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]. He also picked up the support of a third candidate, DeAnne Henke of Lafayette, who withdrew prior to the primary. A fundraiser was held at Squire Creek Country Club in Lincoln Parish..<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamesdavidcain.com/download/squirecreek_invite.pdf|title=Squire Creek|publisher=jamesdavidcain.com|date=June 27, 2006|accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>​

Cain unveiled a five-point plan to bring "integrity, efficiency, and accountability" to the insurance office. He accused Donelon, with whom he had served in the state House, of having billied the state $50 per hour to attend birthday and retirement parties as well as fundraising galas. He charged that Donelon was not working with insurance companies, such as Allstate, which were threatening to leave Louisiana because of the lack of return. Cain won high-powered endorsements, including former [[Governor]] [[Buddy Roemer]], Republican financier Donald T. Bollinger, and [[Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]. He also picked up the support of a third candidate, DeAnne Henke of Lafayette, who withdrew prior to the primary. A fundraiser was held at Squire Creek Country Club in Lincoln Parish..<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamesdavidcain.com/download/squirecreek_invite.pdf|title=Squire Creek|publisher=jamesdavidcain.com|date=June 27, 2006|accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>​

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In the end though, voters stuck with Donelon: 284,281 (50 percent) to Cain's 222,732 (39 percent), and 60,182 (11 percent) for the [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]]  S. B. A. Zaitoon of Baton Rouge. Had either Cain or Zaitoon polled an additional 1,368 votes, there would have been a second race between Donelon and Cain in conjunction with the November 7, 2006, general election.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 30, 2006.</ref>

In the end though, voters stuck with Donelon: 284,281 (50 percent) to Cain's 222,732 (39 percent), and 60,182 (11 percent) for the [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]]  S. B. A. Zaitoon of Baton Rouge. Had either Cain or Zaitoon polled an additional 1,368 votes, there would have been a second race between Donelon and Cain in conjunction with the November 7, 2006, general election.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 30, 2006.</ref>

Cain's Senate District 30 encompasses parts of Beauregard, Calcasieu,, and Vernon parishes in western Louisiana. In the general election held on November 17, 2007, to choose a successor to Cain, John R. Smith of Leesville defeated another Democrat Claude "Buddy" Leach, a former member of both the Louisiana House and the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Louisiana's 4th congressional district.<ref name=genelection/>​

Cain's Senate District 30 encompasses parts of Beauregard, Calcasieu,, and Vernon parishes in western Louisiana. In the general election held on November 17, 2007, to choose a successor to Cain, John R. Smith of Leesville defeated another Democrat Claude "Buddy" Leach, a former member of both the Louisiana House and the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Louisiana's 4th congressional district.<ref name=genelection/>​

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On February 9, 2008, Cain won the seat for Louisiana House District 32 on the [[Louisiana Republican Party|Republican State Central Committee]] in the [[closed primary]] for party offices. He defeated Kennis Paul Smith, 490 (69 percent) to 216 (31 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/02092008/02092008_MultiParish.html|title=Election Returns|date=February 9, 2008|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>​

On February 9, 2008, Cain won the seat for Louisiana House District 32 on the Republican State Central Committee in the [[closed primary]] for party offices. He defeated Kennis Paul Smith, 490 (69 percent) to 216 (31 percent) in a low turnout.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/02092008/02092008_MultiParish.html|title=Election Returns|date=February 9, 2008|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>​

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==2011 state Senate election==​

==2011 state Senate election==​