Changes

In 1999, Strain was elected to the Louisiana House for District 74, a conservative constituency located in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. In 2000, he succeeded a cousin, R. H. "Bill" Strain, a veteran [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] lawmaker. Strain was re-elected without opposition in 2003.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>

In 1999, Strain was elected to the Louisiana House for District 74, a conservative constituency located in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. In 2000, he succeeded a cousin, R. H. "Bill" Strain, a veteran [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] lawmaker. Strain was re-elected without opposition in 2003.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>

In the legislature, Strain chaired the Rural Caucus for two terms and was named ''Legislator of the Year'' by the St. Tammany Parish Alliance for Good Government.

In the legislature, Strain chaired the Rural Caucus for two terms and was named '"Legislator of the Year" by the St. Tammany Parish Alliance for Good Government.

== Campaign critics ==

== Campaign critics ==

Early in 2007, Strain entered the race for agriculture commissioner in opposition to the 28-year Democratic [[incumbent]], Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom, Jr., who in his last years in office had been engulfed in multiple personal corruption allegations.

Early in 2007, Strain entered the race for agriculture commissioner in opposition to the 28-year Democratic [[incumbent]], Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom, Jr., who in his last years in office had been engulfed in multiple personal corruption allegations.

Numerous newspapers endorsed Strain's candidacy, including ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' ''The Shreveport Times,''  the ''[[Monroe News-Star]]'' in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] (the seat of Ouachita Parish in northeast Louisiana) and ''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' published three days a week in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] (the seat of Rapides Parish in central Louisiana). In declaring its support for Strain, ''The Times-Picayune'' said that the department is "badly in need of change. The department in recent years has run amok, particularly as it embarked on an ill-conceived and wasteful building campaign. Taxpayers are now carrying a $56 million debt risk for a syrup mill that's not meeting production projections. Yet the department sought to build a separate $135 million mill last year until public pressure helped kill the project . . . "

Numerous newspapers endorsed Strain's candidacy, including ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' ''The Shreveport Times,''  the ''[[Monroe News Star]]'' in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] (the seat of Ouachita Parish in northeast Louisiana) and ''[[The Alexandria Town Talk]],'' published three days a week in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] (the seat of Rapides Parish in central Louisiana). In declaring its support for Strain, ''The Times-Picayune'' said that the department is "badly in need of change. The department in recent years has run amok, particularly as it embarked on an ill-conceived and wasteful building campaign. Taxpayers are now carrying a $56 million debt risk for a syrup mill that's not meeting production projections. Yet the department sought to build a separate $135 million mill last year until public pressure helped kill the project . . . "

Strain also received the endorsement of the Louisiana Republican Party and the support of Republican then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], who urged voters to elect Strain in order to "move beyond our past of cronyism and corruption."<ref>"Mike Strain standing by an old ally," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' undated; no longer accessible on line.</ref>

Strain also received the endorsement of the Louisiana Republican Party and the support of Republican then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], who urged voters to elect Strain in order to "move beyond our past of cronyism and corruption."<ref>"Mike Strain standing by an old ally," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' undated; no longer accessible on line.</ref>

==2015 reelection bid==

==2015 reelection bid==

Strain earlier said that he would likely run for governor when the seat was contested again in 2015.<ref>"Strain eyeing 2015 governor's race," ''[[Monroe News-Star]],'' January 24, 2012.</ref> The incumbent, Republican [[Bobby Jindal]], was term-limited.

Strain earlier said that he would likely run for governor when the seat was contested again in 2015.<ref>"Strain eyeing 2015 governor's race," ''[[Monroe News Star]],'' January 24, 2012.</ref> The incumbent, Republican [[Bobby Jindal]], was term-limited.

In 2012, Strain, presumably seeking future allies in a race for governor, became the first statewide or multi-parish political figure to make an endorsement in the heated 3rd congressional district race between Republican incumbents Charles Boustany, a [[Moderate Republican]] and [[Jeff Landry]], a conservative. Strain chose Boustany, the winning candidate, having cited the representative's past support for the agricultural sector.<ref>Jordan Blum, "Boustany gets Strain's support," ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' October 31, 2012.</ref> The 3rd district seat is now held by a conservative Republican, [[Clay Higgins]].

In 2012, Strain, presumably seeking future allies in a race for governor, became the first statewide or multi-parish political figure to make an endorsement in the heated 3rd congressional district race between Republican incumbents Charles Boustany, a [[Moderate Republican]] and [[Jeff Landry]], a conservative. Strain chose Boustany, the winning candidate, having cited the representative's past support for the agricultural sector.<ref>Jordan Blum, "Boustany gets Strain's support," ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' October 31, 2012.</ref> The 3rd district seat is now held by a conservative Republican, [[Clay Higgins]].

On June 28, 2013, Strain bowed out of further consideration in the 2015 gubernatorial race and announced in New Orleans that he would instead seek a third term as agriculture commissioner; in his words, "to keep the job I love." Then Lieutenant Governor John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne, Jr., who sought the governorship, expressed satisfaction that Strain would not be running because the two would have appealed to the same segment of voters had both entered the race to succeed Bobby Jindal.<ref>"Strain to skip governor's race," ''The Monroe News-Star,,'' June 28, 2013.</ref>

On June 28, 2013, Strain bowed out of further consideration in the 2015 gubernatorial race and announced in New Orleans that he would instead seek a third term as agriculture commissioner; in his words, "to keep the job I love." Then Lieutenant Governor John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne, Jr., who sought the governorship, expressed satisfaction that Strain would not be running because the two would have appealed to the same segment of voters had both entered the race to succeed Bobby Jindal.<ref>"Strain to skip governor's race," ''The Monroe News Star,'' June 28, 2013.</ref>

In the primary on October 24, 2015, Strain defeated the Democrat Charlie Greer of [[rural]] Natchez in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches Parish]]; a fellow Republican, Jamie LaBranche of LaPlace, in St. John the Baptist Parish, and a [[Green Party]] opponent, Adrian "Ace" Juttner of Abita Springs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/candidates-qualified-in-statewide-elections/|title=Candidates Qualified in Statewide Elections|publisher=KEEL (AM) Radio|author=Angela Thomas|date=September 10, 2015|accessdate=April 16, 2021}}</ref> Strain polled 603,557 votes (58.2 percent) to Greer's 312,335 (30.1 percent), LaBranche's 85,363 (8.2 percent), and Juttner's 36,180 (3.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 24, 2015}}</ref>

In the primary on October 24, 2015, Strain defeated the Democrat Charlie Greer of [[rural]] Natchez in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches Parish]]; a fellow Republican, Jamie LaBranche of LaPlace, in St. John the Baptist Parish, and a [[Green Party]] opponent, Adrian "Ace" Juttner of Abita Springs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/candidates-qualified-in-statewide-elections/|title=Candidates Qualified in Statewide Elections|publisher=KEEL (AM) Radio|author=Angela Thomas|date=September 10, 2015|accessdate=April 16, 2021}}</ref> Strain polled 603,557 votes (58.2 percent) to Greer's 312,335 (30.1 percent), LaBranche's 85,363 (8.2 percent), and Juttner's 36,180 (3.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 24, 2015}}</ref>