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{{Infobox person

{{Infobox person

|name=Robert Emmet Couhig, Jr.​<br>

|name=Robert Emmet Couhig, Jr.​<br>

(Louisiana businessman, attorney, and politician)

(Louisiana businessman, attorney, politician)

| birth_date=April 20, 1949​

| birth_date=April 20, 1949​

| birth_place=[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

| birth_place=[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

Not long after his first congressional race, Couhig was the campaign manager for Republican State Representative Garey Forster, who represented the New Orleans French Quarter district from 1982 to 1997.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

Not long after his first congressional race, Couhig was the campaign manager for Republican State Representative Garey Forster, who represented the New Orleans French Quarter district from 1982 to 1997.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

===Second run for Congress, 1999==

===Second run for Congress, 1999===

Couhig ran for Congress again in the special election held on May 1, 1999, in the 1st congressional district to choose the successor to [[Bob Livingston]], who resigned amid a sex scandal revealed when Livingston was slated to become the new [[Speaker]] of the House. Couhig finished in fifth place with 5,149 votes (8 percent). Former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] was forced into a runoff for the seat with state Representative [[David Vitter]] who narrowly won the second round of balloting and held the seat from 1999 to 2005, when he became the state's first Republican [[U.S. Senator]] since [[Reconstruction]]. Couhig was even overshadowed in the House race by the controversial Republican convert, [[David Duke]].​

Couhig ran for Congress again in the special election held on May 1, 1999, in the 1st congressional district to choose the successor to [[Bob Livingston]], who resigned amid a sex scandal revealed when Livingston was slated to become the new [[Speaker]] of the House. Couhig finished in fifth place with 5,149 votes (8 percent). Former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] was forced into a runoff for the seat with state Representative [[David Vitter]] who narrowly won the second round of balloting and held the seat from 1999 to 2005, when he became the state's first Republican [[U.S. Senator]] since [[Reconstruction]]. Couhig was even overshadowed in the House race by the controversial Republican convert, [[David Duke]].​

===2006 mayoral bid===

===2006 mayoral bid===

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In 2005, Greater New Orleans was devastated by [[Hurricane Katrina]] and related levee failures. The majority of the city was still in ruins and the majority of the population still living elsewhere in early 2006, for what many felt was the most important election in the city's history. Couhig and Peggy Wilson, a former member of the New Orleans City Council, were the two Republican candidates for mayor. His campaign started with television ads mocking the perceived leading candidates, [[Mitch Landrieu]], Ron Forman, and incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin. In televised debates prior to the nonpartisan blanket primary, Couhig's combative style attracted attention. MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] declared Couhig the "absolute winner" of the pre-primary debate.

In 2005, Greater New Orleans was devastated by [[Hurricane Katrina]] and related levee failures. The majority of the city was still in ruins and the majority of the population still living elsewhere in early 2006, for what many felt was the most important election in the city's history. Couhig and Peggy Wilson, a former member of the New Orleans City Council, were the two Republican candidates for mayor. His campaign started with television ads mocking the perceived leading candidates, [[Mitch Landrieu]], Ron Forman, and incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin. In televised debates prior to the nonpartisan blanket primary, Couhig's combative style attracted attention. MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] declared Couhig the "absolute winner" of the pre-primary debate.