Changes

==2003 Louisiana gubernatorial race==

==2003 Louisiana gubernatorial race==

Downer formally switched parties in 2001 and two years later announced his candidacy for governor as a Republican Three Republican gubernatorial candidates dropped out of the race early and endorsed Downer: former Governor [[David C. Treen]], then living in St. Tammany, state Senator Jesse Kendrick "Ken" Hollis, Jr. (1942-2010), of Jefferson Parish, and Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[Jay Blossman|Jack A. "Jay" Blossman, Jr.]], of Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish. However, the majority of Republican voters supported [[Bobby Jindal]], then of Baton Rouge (later a [[U.S. Representative]] from the New Orleans [[suburb]]s.

Downer formally switched parties in 2001 and two years later announced his candidacy for governor as a Republican Three Republican gubernatorial candidates dropped out of the race early and endorsed Downer: former Governor [[David C. Treen]], then living in St. Tammany, state Senator [[Ken Hollis|Jesse Kendrick "Ken" Hollis, Jr.]], of Jefferson Parish, and Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[Jay Blossman|Jack A. "Jay" Blossman, Jr.]], of Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish. However, the majority of Republican voters supported [[Bobby Jindal]], then of Baton Rouge (later a [[U.S. Representative]] from the New Orleans [[suburb]]s.

Downer secured the endorsement of thirty-three members of the state legislature from both parties and both chambers, including Republican Representatives [[Carl Crane]] of Baton Rouge and [[Ernie Alexander]] of Lafayette as well as the Democrat  [[Francis C. Thompson]] of Delhi in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. Yet, Downer received only 84,718 votes (6 percent) in the primary, compared to 444,389 ballots (33 percent) for Jindal. In turn, Jindal was defeated by the leading Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]] of Lafayette in the [[general election]]. Soon after her election, Blanco appointed Downer as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, and later as her legislative director in the Office of the Governor.

Downer secured the endorsement of thirty-three members of the state legislature from both parties and both chambers, including Republican Representatives [[Carl Crane]] of Baton Rouge and [[Ernie Alexander]] of Lafayette as well as the Democrat  [[Francis C. Thompson]] of Delhi in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. Yet, Downer received only 84,718 votes (6 percent) in the primary, compared to 444,389 ballots (33 percent) for Jindal. In turn, Jindal was defeated by the leading Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]] of Lafayette in the [[general election]]. Soon after her election, Blanco appointed Downer as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, and later as her legislative director in the Office of the Governor.