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==Political life==
==Political life==
Morrish won his Senate seat in the [[general election]] held on November 17, 2007, when he defeated the then Democrat Gillis James "Gil" Pinac of Crowley in Acadia Parish, who was also a departing state representative from a nearby district. In a low-turnout contest, Morrish polled 11,186 votes (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref><ref>Gil Pinac thereafter switched to Republican affiliation and ran third in a [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009, for the Louisiana Public Service Commissi]. Former [[U.S. Representative]] Clyde Cecil Holloway of Rapides Parish won the seat after the second-place candidate, then state Senator [[Joe McPherson]], also of Rapides Parish, withdrew from a runoff contest</ref><ref>"Senator drops out of runoff for PSC," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' April 14, 2009, p. B2.</ref>
Morrish won his Senate seat in the [[general election]] held on November 17, 2007, when he defeated the then Democrat Gillis James "Gil" Pinac of Crowley in Acadia Parish, who was also a departing state representative from a nearby district. In a low-turnout contest, Morrish polled 11,186 votes (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref><ref>Gil Pinac thereafter switched to Republican affiliation and ran third in a [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009, for the Louisiana Public Service Commissi]. Former [[U.S. Representative]] Clyde Cecil Holloway of Rapides Parish won the seat after the second-place candidate, then state Senator [[Joe McPherson]], also of Rapides Parish, withdrew from a runoff contest</ref><ref>"Senator drops out of runoff for PSC," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' April 14, 2009, p. B2.</ref>
Prior to his state Senate tenure, Morrish was the Democratic state representative for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes) from 1996 to 2008. He won a special election in 1996 to succeed Gerald J. Theunissen, who resigned from the House upon election to the state Senate seat that Morrish would hold for twelve years. Morrish was then unopposed as a Democrat for the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket [[Primary|primaries]] held in 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/members/h1880-2008.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes)|publisher=legis.state.la.us|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> Morrish switched parties on November 18, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272551|title="Our Campaigns", Louisiana House race 2005, party switch"|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=December 5, 2019}</ref>
Prior to his state Senate tenure, Morrish was the Democratic state representative for District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes) from 1996 to 2008. He won a special election in 1996 to succeed Gerald J. Theunissen, who resigned from the House upon election to the state Senate seat that Morrish would hold for twelve years. Morrish was then unopposed as a Democrat for the House seat in the nonpartisan blanket [[Primary|primaries]] held in 1999 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/members/h1880-2008.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes)|publisher=legis.state.la.us|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> Morrish switched parties on November 18, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272551|title="Our Campaigns", Louisiana House race 2005, party switch"|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=December 5, 2019}</ref>
Like Morrish, Theunissen, another Democrat-turned-Republican from Jennings, served first in the House and then the Senate. Theunissen, a banker, was term-limited and ineligible to seek a fourth Senate term in the 2007 primary. Meanwhile, Morrish was succeeded in the House by another Jennings Republican businessman, John E. "Johnny" Guinn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=37|title=Louisiana House of Representatives: John E. Guinn|publisher=louisiana.gov|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Like Morrish, Theunissen, another Democrat-turned-Republican from Jennings, served first in the House and then the Senate. Theunissen, a banker, was term-limited and ineligible to seek a fourth Senate term in the 2007 primary. Meanwhile, Morrish was succeeded in the House by another Jennings Republican businessman, John E. "Johnny" Guinn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=37|title=Louisiana House of Representatives: John E. Guinn|publisher=louisiana.gov|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Morrish served his last term in the House as a member of the Appropriations Committee as the representative for the since disbanded 7th congressional d.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/H_Misc/Press_Rel/PDF/MorrishElectedAppCmte.pdf|title=Morrish Elected to Appropriations Committee|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> As senator, Morrish served on the Legislative Rural Caucus, Environmental Quality, Insurance, Coastal Restoration & Flood Control, and Revenue & Fiscal Affairs committees. He was also vice-chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/assignments.asp|title=Louisiana State Senate: Dan W. "Blade" Morrish|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
Morrish served his last term in the House as a member of the Appropriations Committee as the representative for the since disbanded 7th congressional d.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/H_Misc/Press_Rel/PDF/MorrishElectedAppCmte.pdf|title=Morrish Elected to Appropriations Committee|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref> As senator, Morrish served on the Legislative Rural Caucus, Environmental Quality, Insurance, Coastal Restoration & Flood Control, and Revenue & Fiscal Affairs committees. He was also vice-chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Morrish/assignments.asp|title=Louisiana State Senate: Dan W. "Blade" Morrish|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
In 2008, Morrish supported the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum 89 percent of the time. However, in 2009, Morrish voted with the Louisiana Restaurant Association and against the Family Forum's position<ref>"Chelsea's bill approved by the House," The Baton Rouge Advocate]]''|accessdate=October 19, 2009}}</ref> when he supported a measure sponsored by Democratic Senator Lydia P. Jackson of [[Shreveport]] and signed by then [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], which allows restaurants to assess cover charges for live entertainment and to serve [[alcoholic beverage]]s.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=15196|title=Project VoteSmart: Senator Dan W. 'Blade' Morrish|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> Morrish similarly received an 86 percent rating from another conservative [[interest group]], the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.<ref name=vsmart/>
In 2008, Morrish supported the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum 89 percent of the time. However, in 2009, Morrish voted with the Louisiana Restaurant Association and against the Family Forum's position<ref>"Chelsea's bill approved by the House," The Baton Rouge Advocate]]''|accessdate=October 19, 2009}}</ref> when he supported a measure sponsored by Democratic Senator Lydia P. Jackson of [[Shreveport]] and signed by then [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], which allows restaurants to assess cover charges for live entertainment and to serve [[alcoholic beverage]]s.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=15196|title=Project VoteSmart: Senator Dan W. 'Blade' Morrish|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> Morrish similarly received an 86 percent rating from another conservative [[interest group]], the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.<ref name=vsmart/>
As a Democrat, Morrish endorsed [[George W. Bush]] for [[U.S. President]] in 2000 and 2004. When Bush visited [[Lafayette]], Louisiana, in 2001, he singled out Morrish for his support: " . . . There is one other fellow, a man who stuck his neck out in the course of the campaign. You see, he doesn't happen to have the Republican label by his name. His name is Dan Morrish. He's a Democrat. He put party aside and did what he thought was right for the country. And Dan, I'm honored to have your support. I thank you for your friendship."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=45765|title=George W. Bush: Remarks in Lafayette, Louisiana|date=March 9, 2001|publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
As a Democrat, Morrish endorsed [[George W. Bush]] for [[U.S. President]] in 2000 and 2004. When Bush visited [[Lafayette]], Louisiana, in 2001, he singled out Morrish for his support: " ... There is one other fellow, a man who stuck his neck out in the course of the campaign. You see, he doesn't happen to have the Republican label by his name. His name is Dan Morrish. He's a Democrat. He put party aside and did what he thought was right for the country. And Dan, I'm honored to have your support. I thank you for your friendship."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=45765|title=George W. Bush: Remarks in Lafayette, Louisiana|date=March 9, 2001|publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu|accessdate=October 14, 2009}}</ref>
==Support for Democratic Governor Edwards==
==Support for Democratic Governor Edwards==