Changes

In 1978, the Republican Robert Henry Mitchell, Jr. (born 1945) of Forest Hill in Rapides Parish, the son of a letter carrier, Robert Mitchell, Sr. (1915-2014), and the former Jane P. Odom (1919-2005),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?n=robert-henry-mitchell&pid=171655992|title=Robert Henry Mitchell, Sr.|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=July 11, 2014}}</ref> challenged Long in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary held in Louisiana for congressional elections. The conservative Mitchell, who did virtually no campaigning, polled 20,547 ballots (20.3 percent) to Long's 80,666 (79.7 percent). Mitchell was setting the stage for potentially stronger Republican campaigns in the 8th district in later years, but the terrain was hostile to Republican candidates.​

In 1978, the Republican Robert Henry Mitchell, Jr. (born 1945) of Forest Hill in Rapides Parish, the son of a letter carrier, Robert Mitchell, Sr. (1915-2014), and the former Jane P. Odom (1919-2005),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?n=robert-henry-mitchell&pid=171655992|title=Robert Henry Mitchell, Sr.|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=July 11, 2014}}</ref> challenged Long in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary held in Louisiana for congressional elections. The conservative Mitchell, who did virtually no campaigning, polled 20,547 ballots (20.3 percent) to Long's 80,666 (79.7 percent). Mitchell was setting the stage for potentially stronger Republican campaigns in the 8th district in later years, but the terrain was hostile to Republican candidates.​

In 1980, Republican Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016), a nurseryman also from Forest Hill, challenged Long. Robert Mitchell, the loser in the 1978 race against Long, also ran again. Long prevailed with 75,433 votes (68.9 percent) to Holloway's 27,816 (25.4 percent) and Mitchell's 6,243 (5.7 percent). Holloway had used his candidacy in part to rally opposition to a cross-parish school busing order issued by U.S. District Judge Nauman Scott, based in Alexandria. Holloway would run again for the seat in 1985 in the special election called to select Long's congressional successor and in 1986 to choose Long's more permanent replacement.​

In 1980, Republican [[Clyde Holloway]], a nurseryman also from Forest Hill, challenged Long. Robert Mitchell, the loser in the 1978 race against Long, also ran again. Long prevailed with 75,433 votes (68.9 percent) to Holloway's 27,816 (25.4 percent) and Mitchell's 6,243 (5.7 percent). Holloway had used his candidacy in part to rally opposition to a cross-parish school busing order issued by U.S. District Judge Nauman Scott, based in Alexandria. Holloway would run again for the seat in 1985 in the special election called to select Long's congressional successor and in 1986 to choose Long's more permanent replacement.​

In 1981, Long opposed the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] tax cuts, citing two objections: (1) The major tax relief rested with families earning more than $50,000 annually, (2) The tax cuts could lead to "staggering deficits." However, forty-eight House Democrats provided the margin of victory for the tax cuts, which Republicans thereafter cited as the centerpiece of the revitalization of a dormant economy.<ref>Margie Dale and Vicky Harris, "Pro and Con of Tax Cut: [[Buddy Roemer]] vs. Gillis Long" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 31, 1981, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1981, Long opposed the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] tax cuts, citing two objections: (1) The major tax relief rested with families earning more than $50,000 annually, (2) The tax cuts could lead to "staggering deficits." However, forty-eight House Democrats provided the margin of victory for the tax cuts, which Republicans thereafter cited as the centerpiece of the revitalization of a dormant economy.<ref>Margie Dale and Vicky Harris, "Pro and Con of Tax Cut: [[Buddy Roemer]] vs. Gillis Long" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 31, 1981, p. 1.</ref>​