Changes

In the primary held on October 4, 2003, Buffington, backed by the outgoing Senator Bean, led a four-candidate race with 10,458 votes (35.3 percent). In second place was the Democrat Forrest Davis, who polled 9,403 votes (31.7 percent). Two other Republicans finished behind, Doug Shurling, with 5,387 votes (18.1 percent) and Ted Roberts, 4,410 (14.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In that 68 percent of primary voters had chosen a Republican candidate, Davis withdrew from the November 15 [[general election]], and Buffington won by default.

In the primary held on October 4, 2003, Buffington, backed by the outgoing Senator Bean, led a four-candidate race with 10,458 votes (35.3 percent). In second place was the Democrat Forrest Davis, who polled 9,403 votes (31.7 percent). Two other Republicans finished behind, Doug Shurling, with 5,387 votes (18.1 percent) and Ted Roberts, 4,410 (14.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In that 68 percent of primary voters had chosen a Republican candidate, Davis withdrew from the November 15 [[general election]], and Buffington won by default.

   

   

In 2007, Buffington won reelection by defeating [[Alan Seabaugh]], the more [[conservative]] Republican attorney, and subsequent state representative for District 5. She won the primary, 16,665 (53 percent) to Seabaugh's 14,725 (47 percent). De Soto Parish provided most of Buffington's margin of victory. Had the race been restricted to the majority of the precincts in Caddo Parish, Buffington would have won by only 277 votes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Seabaugh told ''The Shreveport Times'' that he had "met Sherri and she seems nice. But she just doesn't represent me. It begins and ends with her voting record. She runs as a Republican and votes like a Democrat."<ref name=prime>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewslink.com/archives.php?id=2319|author=John Andrew Prime|title=Incumbent Senator Sherri Smith Cheek Faces Attorney Alan Seabaugh|publisher=''The Shreveport Times|date=October 7, 2007|accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref>   

In 2007, Buffington won reelection by defeating [[Alan Seabaugh]], the more [[conservative]] Republican attorney, and subsequent state representative for District 5. She won the primary, 16,665 (53 percent) to Seabaugh's 14,725 (47 percent). De Soto Parish provided most of Buffington's margin of victory. Had the race been restricted to the majority of the precincts in Caddo Parish, Buffington would have won by only 277 votes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Seabaugh told ''The Shreveport Times'' that he had "met Sherri and she seems nice. But she just doesn't represent me. It begins and ends with her voting record. She runs as a Republican and votes like a Democrat."<ref name=prime>John Andrew Prime, "Incumbent Senator Sherri Smith Cheek Faces Attorney Alan Seabaugh," ''The Shreveport Times,'' October 7, 2007.</ref>   

   

   

Buffington served on these Senate committees: (1) Environmental Quality, (2) Finance, (3) Health and Welfare (vice chairman), and (4) Labor and Industrial Relations. She is also the vice chairman of the Select Women's and Children's Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/cheek/assignments.asp|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek -- District 38|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=August 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315153050/http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Cheek/assignments.asp|archivedate=March 15, 2012}}</ref>  

Buffington served on these Senate committees: (1) Environmental Quality, (2) Finance, (3) Health and Welfare (vice chairman), and (4) Labor and Industrial Relations. She is also the vice chairman of the Select Women's and Children's Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/cheek/assignments.asp|title=Senator Sherri Smith Cheek -- District 38|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=August 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315153050/http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Cheek/assignments.asp|archivedate=March 15, 2012}}</ref>