Louisiana's 8th congressional district was a congressional district which was created in 1913 and eliminated in 1993 after Louisiana lost its eighth congressional seat in the 1990 U. S. census. For its entire existence, it was based in Alexandria and included much of the north-central part of the state.

Louisiana's 8th congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1913
Eliminated1993
Years active1913-1993

Beginning in 1972, the district was redrawn at the direction of Governor Edwin Edwards to take in liberal precincts in Baton Rouge and along the Mississippi River corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in order to aid the return to Congress of Gillis Long.

List of members representing the district

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Member
(Residence)
Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District created following 1910 census – March 4, 1913
 
James Benjamin Aswell
(Natchitoches)
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 16, 1931
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Died.
Vacant March 16, 1931 –
May 12, 1931
72nd
 
John H. Overton
(Alexandria)
Democratic May 12, 1931 –
March 3, 1933
Elected to finish Aswell's term.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
 
Cleveland Dear
(Alexandria)
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1937
73rd
74th
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Retired to run for governor.
 
A. Leonard Allen
(Winnfield)
Democratic January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1953
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
Elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Retired.
 
George S. Long
(Pineville)
Democratic January 3, 1953 –
March 22, 1958
83rd
84th
85th
Elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Died.
Vacant March 22, 1958 –
January 3, 1959
85th
 
Harold B. McSween
(Alexandria)
Democratic January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1963
86th
87th
Elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Lost renomination.
 
Gillis William Long
(Winnfield)
Democratic January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1965
88th Elected in 1962.
Lost renomination.
 
Speedy O. Long
(Jena)
Democratic January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1973
89th
90th
91st
92nd
Elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Redistricted to the 5th district and retired.
 
Gillis William Long
(Alexandria)
Democratic January 3, 1973 –
January 20, 1985
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
Elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Died.
Vacant January 20, 1985 –
March 30, 1985
99th
 
Catherine Small Long
(Alexandria)
Democratic March 30, 1985 –
January 3, 1987
Elected to finish her husband's term.
Retired.
 
Clyde C. Holloway
(Forest Hill)
Republican January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1993
100th
101st
102nd
Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the 6th district and lost re-election there.
District eliminated following 1990 census – January 3, 1993

References

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  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present