Changes

In 1975, Williamson sought reelection to the state Senate for District 39 and faced an unexpected challenger, state Representative [[Jimmy Wilson]], who was completing a single term in the House during Williamson's first term in the Senate. Still a Democrat at the time, Wilson ran as an advocate of [[right-to-work]] legislation, which the legislature adopted in 1976. Wilson claimed that he would address business growth issues more effectively than had Williamson. Then Williamson questioned Wilson's high rate of absenteeism in critical state House votes and ran a clever advertisement which proclaimed: "He [Wilson] didn't vote for you. Why should you vote for him?" Williamson said that Wilson was not satisfied as a representative but quickly eyed the state Senate and even planned to run later for governor.[12]

In 1975, Williamson sought reelection to the state Senate for District 39 and faced an unexpected challenger, state Representative [[Jimmy Wilson]], who was completing a single term in the House during Williamson's first term in the Senate. Still a Democrat at the time, Wilson ran as an advocate of [[right-to-work]] legislation, which the legislature adopted in 1976. Wilson claimed that he would address business growth issues more effectively than had Williamson. Then Williamson questioned Wilson's high rate of absenteeism in critical state House votes and ran a clever advertisement which proclaimed: "He [Wilson] didn't vote for you. Why should you vote for him?" Williamson said that Wilson was not satisfied as a representative but quickly eyed the state Senate and even planned to run later for governor.[12]

After his loss to Williamson, Wilson switched parties and made unsuccessful campaigns in 1978 and 1980 as a Republican for the 4th congressional district seat vacated by the longtime U.S. Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing in northern Bossier Parish. The seat first went to Democrat Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, then of Leesville in western Louisiana, and has since been filled by Democrats [[Buddy Roemer]] and Cleo Fields and Republicans James Otis "Jim" McCrery, John Cooksey, [[John Fleming]], and [[Mike Johnson]]. [13]

After his loss to Williamson, Wilson switched parties and made unsuccessful campaigns in 1978 and 1980 as a Republican for the 4th congressional district seat vacated by the longtime U.S. Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing in northern Bossier Parish. The seat first went to Democrat [[Buddy Leach|Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, Jr.]], then of Leesville in western Louisiana, and has since been filled by Democrats [[Buddy Roemer]] and Cleo Fields and Republicans James Otis "Jim" McCrery, John Cooksey, [[John Fleming]], and [[Mike Johnson]]. [13]

==Running for insurance commissioner==

==Running for insurance commissioner==