1972 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana

Louisiana stayed at eight house seats following the 1970 census, but the Eighth District's boundaries were radically altered. New governor Edwin W. Edwards ordered the district to take in territory far to the south and east of its traditional base of Alexandria, which included many African-American and progressive white voters. The change was largely regarded as an election deal between Edwards and former Rep. Gillis Long, who finished third in the Democratic Primary in the 1971 Louisiana Governor's Election. Long easily won back the Eighth District seat he lost in 1964.

Of the 8 Louisiana incumbents, 6 were re-elected.

District Incumbent Party First
elected
Result Candidates
Louisiana 1 F. Edward Hebert Democratic 1940 Incumbent re-elected. F. Edward Hebert (Democratic) Unopposed
Louisiana 2 Hale Boggs Democratic 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Hale Boggs (Democratic) Unopposed
Louisiana 3 Patrick T. Caffery Democratic 1968 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Dave Treen (Republican) 54.0%
J. Louis Watkins Jr. (Democratic) 46.0%
Louisiana 4 Joe Waggonner Democratic 1961 Incumbent re-elected. Joe Waggonner (Democratic) Unopposed
Louisiana 5 Otto Passman Democratic 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Otto Passman (Democratic) Unopposed
Louisiana 6 John Rarick Democratic 1966 Incumbent re-elected. John Rarick (Democratic) Unopposed
Louisiana 7 John Breaux Democratic 1972 (Special) Incumbent re-elected. John Breaux (Democratic) Unopposed
Louisiana 8 Speedy Long Democratic 1964 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Gillis William Long (Democratic) 68.5%
S. R. Abramson (American) 16.8%
Roy C. Strickland (Republican) 14.6%

See also


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