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In the 1932 campaign, LeBlanc spent more time attacking Long, who was not a candidate for reelection, than he did his principal rival, Oscar Kelly Allen (1882-1936). Long retaliated: in stump speeches, he poked fun at LeBlanc's French name, much as Long's brother, [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], later ridiculed then [[New Orleans]] [[Mayor]] deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, (1912-1964), when Long and Morrison were opposing candidates in the 1955 gubernatorial primary. Long also criticized LeBlanc's funeral business, which catered primarily to [[African Americans]].​

In the 1932 campaign, LeBlanc spent more time attacking Long, who was not a candidate for reelection, than he did his principal rival, Oscar Kelly Allen (1882-1936). Long retaliated: in stump speeches, he poked fun at LeBlanc's French name, much as Long's brother, [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], later ridiculed then [[New Orleans]] [[Mayor]] deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, (1912-1964), when Long and Morrison were opposing candidates in the 1955 gubernatorial primary. Long also criticized LeBlanc's funeral business, which catered primarily to [[African Americans]].​

It was during this losing campaign for governor that LeBlanc began calling for a $30 old-age pension. Years later, Governor Earl Long, who found LeBlanc charming and humorous, declared LeBlanc the "father of the old-age pension" in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite book​

It was during this losing campaign for governor that LeBlanc began calling for a $30 old-age pension. Years later, Governor Earl Long, who at times found LeBlanc charming and humorous, declared LeBlanc the "father of the old-age pension" in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite book​

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QsvV2cVte6wC​

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QsvV2cVte6wC​

| title = Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics​

| title = Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics​

|date=December 1, 1991​

|date=December 1, 1991​

| publisher=[[Louisiana State University]] Press​

| publisher=[[Louisiana State University]] Press​

| isbn = 9780807117651​}}</ref> By that time, the payments were $100 per month.​

| isbn = 9780807117651​|accessdate=January 10, 2020}}</ref> By that time, the payments were $100 per month.​

After his defeat for governor, LeBlanc returned to another prosperous burial insurance business, the "Thibodaux Benevolent Association." Long prevented LeBlanc from operating his business in Louisiana by getting the legislature to pass a law forbidding that type of insurance company from operating in the state. Subsequently, LeBlanc moved the company to [[Texas]], where it continued to prosper. After Long's assassination in 1935, LeBlanc sold that business and returned to Abbeville.​

After his defeat for governor, LeBlanc returned to another prosperous burial insurance business, the "Thibodaux Benevolent Association." Long prevented LeBlanc from operating his business in Louisiana by getting the legislature to pass a law forbidding that type of insurance company from operating in the state. Subsequently, LeBlanc moved the company to [[Texas]], where it continued to prosper. After Long's assassination in 1935, LeBlanc sold that business and returned to Abbeville.​

==Four state Senate terms==​

==Four state Senate terms==​

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In 1940, LeBlanc was elected to the first of his four nonconsecutive terms in the Louisiana State Senate. LeBlanc served from 1940 to 1944 (Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]]), 1948 to 1952 (second Earl Long administration), 1964 to 1968, and 1968 to 1971 (McKeithen), when he died in office, with some seven months remaining in the term.​ At the time of his death, LeBlanc was also seeking a fifth term in the state Senate from a reconfigured district including Vermilion and Acadia parishes.

In 1940, LeBlanc was elected to the first of his four nonconsecutive terms in the Louisiana State Senate. LeBlanc served from 1940 to 1944 (Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]]), 1948 to 1952 (second Earl Long administration), 1964 to 1968, and 1968 to 1971 (McKeithen), when he died in office, with some seven months remaining in his Senate term.​ At the time of his death, LeBlanc was also seeking a fifth term in the state Senate from a reconfigured district including Vermilion and Acadia parishes.

LeBlanc also ran three times — in 1952, 1954, and 1966 — for the [[United States House of Representatives]] for  Louisiana's 3rd congressional district against the Lafayette-based incumbent, [[Edwin E. Willis]. State Representative Dick Guidry of Lafourche Parish was a third candidate in the 1966 congressional primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1592776/|title=Everyone gets into state politics|publisher=''Lake Charles American Press''|date=August 12, 1966|page=15|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref> Willis prevailed over both LeBlanc and Guidry and then defeated the Republican [[Hall Lyons]] of Lafayette in the 1966 [[general election]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 8, 1966.</ref>​

LeBlanc also ran three times — in 1952, 1954, and 1966 — for the [[United States House of Representatives]] for  Louisiana's 3rd congressional district against the Lafayette-based incumbent, [[Edwin E. Willis]. State Representative Dick Guidry of Lafourche Parish was a third candidate in the 1966 congressional primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1592776/|title=Everyone gets into state politics|publisher=''Lake Charles American Press''|date=August 12, 1966|page=15|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref> Willis prevailed over both LeBlanc and Guidry and then defeated the Republican [[Hall Lyons]] of Lafayette in the 1966 [[general election]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 8, 1966.</ref>​

 

==Campaigning in French==​

==Campaigning in French==

 

LeBlanc often campaigned in French when he made appearances in Acadiana. In his ethnic tongue, he extolled his virtues as a politician who deserved the support of his fellow French ethnics, and he attacked his opponents in a language that most of his rivals could not understand. Former Louisiana state Senator Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., a Democrat from Lafayette who served with LeBlanc in the 1960s, avowed that LeBlanc controlled a bloc of rural votes in excess of 40,000, enough to swing an election.<ref>{{cite web​

​LeBlanc often campaigned in French when he made appearances in Acadiana. In his ethnic tongue, he extolled his virtues as a politician who deserved the support of his fellow French ethnics, and he attacked his opponents in a language that most of his rivals could not understand. Former Louisiana state Senator Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., a Democrat from Lafayette who served with LeBlanc in the 1960s, avowed that LeBlanc controlled a bloc of rural votes in excess of 40,000, enough to swing an election.<ref>{{cite web​

| url = https://lapolitics.com/2013/12/lahistory-dudley-leblanc-and-the-hadacol-boogie/​

| url = https://lapolitics.com/2013/12/lahistory-dudley-leblanc-and-the-hadacol-boogie/​

| title = LaHistory: Dudley LeBlanc and the Hadacol Boogie​

| title = LaHistory: Dudley LeBlanc and the Hadacol Boogie​