Southern white Democrats in deep south state legislatures

[smoltchanov]

We still have some in LA, like Senator Ben Nevers and Rep. Jim Fannin.

If i remember correctly - you also have Ward, Smith, Thompson, LeFleur and Heitmeier in state Senate (none of them being especially liberal, but Ward being, probably, the most conservative), and some in House, like Danahay and  Thibaut (i ask your pardon for possible bad spelling because i take names from memory). In 2015 Fannin and Nevers will be term-limited and their seats will, most likely, go Republican though. We shall see what happens with the rest.

And i remember few rather conservative Democrats from neighboring states too - like Steverson in Mississippi's house or Laird - in Alabama's...

[smoltchanov]

We still have some in LA, like Senator Ben Nevers and Rep. Jim Fannin.

Where do they stand politically?  Are they conservative blue dogs or more in line with the national democratic party?

Nevers, and, especially, Fannin (and Rick Ward, and, probably, at least, Smith, Danahay and Thibaut) are "on par" if not more conservative then Jindal and Vitter. Some other are slightly less conservative, but, surely, more so then Boren or Ross were in the last US House. So - most of them are not Blue Dogs, but something substantially more conservative)))). Closer to what was "Deep South norm" 20 or 30 years ago...

P.S. Miles, correct me if i am wrong))) You are closer to "place of events" then i am)))

[smoltchanov]

We still have some in LA, like Senator Ben Nevers and Rep. Jim Fannin.

Where do they stand politically?  Are they conservative blue dogs or more in line with the national democratic party?

Nevers, and, especially, Fannin (and Rick Ward, and, probably, at least, Smith, Danahay and Thibaut) are "on par" if not more conservative then Jindal and Vitter. Some other are slightly less conservative, but, surely, more so then Boren or Ross were in the last US House. So - most of them are not Blue Dogs, but something substantially more conservative)))). Closer to what was "Deep South norm" 20 or 30 years ago...

P.S. Miles, correct me if i am wrong))) You are closer to "place of events" then i am)))

Yeah, that sounds about right. Nevers ran ads during the 2011 campaign emphasizing his pro-gun, pro-life record.

Thanks! It's always a pleasure to be basically correct in estimates))))

[smoltchanov]

Georgia State Senate: 56 members total; 18 Democrats (5 white Democrats)

Curt Thompson (District 5): He represents a slice of Gwinnett County cutting from Norcross to northern Lawrenceville.
SD 5 is 38% Hispanic, 28% Black.
Steve Thompson (District 33): He represents a slice of Cobb County from Austell to Central Marietta.
SD 33 is 34% Black, 16% Hispanic.
Nan Orrack (District 36): She represents a district centered around Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.
SD 36 is 57% Black (but the whites here are very liberal).
Steve Henson (District 41): He represents a district that reaches from Central Dekalb to Tucker, and then extends a tendril into Gwinnett to take in part of Lilburn. SD 41 is 50% Black, 12% Hispanic.
Jason Carter (District 42): He represents a Decatur-based district. Tons of white liberals.
SD 42 is 24% Black, 12% Hispanic.


Georgia State House: 180 members; 60 Democrats (13 white Democrats).

Stacey Evans (District 42): She represents Southeast Marietta, in Cobb County.
HD 42 is 39% Black, 23% Hispanic.
Pat Gardner (District 57): She represents a precinct-wide strip of territory from super-black to super-white Atlanta.
HD 57 is 55% Black.
Margaret Kaiser (District 59): She represents a district like Gardner's.
HD 59 is 56% Black.
Scott Holcomb (District 81): He represents the Chamblee/Doraville area, in northern Dekalb County.
HD 81 is 35% Hispanic, 10% Black.
Mary Oliver (District 82): She represents the white liberals in the Druid Hills area north of Decatur.
HD 82 is 20% Hispanic, 15% Black.
Karla Drenner (District 85): She represents another noodle district, taking in liberal whites north of Decatur as well as blacks south of Decatur.
HD 85 is 57% Black.
Michelle Henson (District 86): She represents another noodle, directly to the East of Drenner's district.
HD 86 is 61% Black.
Pam Stephenson (District 90): She represents some territory bisected by the Henry-Rockdale County line.
HD 90 is 67% Black.
Hugh Floyd (District 99): He represents a district between Lilburn and Norcross in SW Gwinnett.
HD 99 is 52% Hispanic, 22% Black.
Brian Thomas (District 100): He represents the area just north of Lilburn in Gwinnett County.
HD 100 is 34% Hispanic, 32% Black.
Spencer Frye (District 118): He represents the northern half of Athens-Clarke.
HD 118 is 30% Black, 12% Hispanic.
Debbie Buckner (District 137): She represents the outskirts of Columbus and adjacent rural territory.
HD 137 is 52% Black.
Carol Fullerton (District 153): She represents northeastern Albany.
HD 153 is 59% Black.




(All figures are VAP for 2010 Census, taken directly from the legislature's redistricting reports)

Only 1 (probably) state Senator from majority-white district and only 3 - in House. Speaks a lot)))

[smoltchanov]

So basically, Democrats are at something of a floor in the legislature, down to just black/Hispanic majority and a couple liberal white enclaves?

Probably - yes)))

[smoltchanov]

<Sigh>.  I wish there were more of those kind of Democrats.  The South has the best kind of Democrats (i.e. the white, Deep South kind) and the worst kind of Republicans (the ones that make the GOP look bad).

Unlikely. With outrageous polarization of vote (Blacks - 98% Democratic, whites - about 90% Republican) - unlikely. Though as far as i see from LABI's 2012 ratings 2 Democratic legislators with highest (and VERY high - 97 and 91% accordingly) from this business organization are black Democrats, at least one of which is very social conservative too. So - in some rare cases it's still possible...

[smoltchanov]

I don't know how it is in other states, but in Georgia, urban black politicians are generally progressive/liberal, while rural black democrats are often fairly conservative. Hell, Sanford Bishop ran ads this year announcing his opposition to gay marriage (and he has no chance of losing at all).

As far as i know - the same, but 2 i mentioned in Louisiana - especially. Elbert Guillory had 97 rating from LABI and 100 - from Louisiana Family Forum (leading social conservative organization in that state) in 2012, Troy Brown - 91 and 90 correspondingly. Sanford Bishop is a sort of "centrist", these two - (IMHO, of course) - very different sort)))

[smoltchanov]

We need maps!!!

Too depressing

Yeah)) Miles - how do you explain such deep conservatism of Guillory and Brown? Their ratings are at least as high (sometimes -  higher) then Nevers's  or Smith's. IMHO - only Fannin may "compete" with them (sometimes - Danahay, Thibaut and Ward as well, but not always)

[smoltchanov]

Jason Carter, by the way, is the grandson on Jimmy Carter.  Seems to be a rising start within the Senate - I could definitely see him making a stab for leader in a few years.

I'd love for him to move to Plains and primary Bishop in the 2nd.

And almost surely lose? He is white and district is substantially majority-black. I remember a lot of fuss about "white carpetbagger" Cohen representing black-majority district in Tennessee. It subsided somewhat as of late, but it was LOUD....

[smoltchanov]

We need maps!!!

Too depressing

Yeah)) Miles - how do you explain such deep conservatism of Guillory and Brown? Their ratings are at least as high (sometimes -  higher) then Nevers's  or Smith's. IMHO - only Fannin may "compete" with them (sometimes - Danahay, Thibaut and Ward as well, but not always)

As I said, I'm by no means an expert on LA legislative politics, but I know that there are some conservatives who are just very loyal to the Democratic Party.

I understand. What surprises me - a level of economical conservatism of these Louisiana's black legislators. Social conservatism among "rural blacks" is rather frequent thing, but over 90 ratings from Business organization is a rarity)))

[smoltchanov]

Jason Carter, by the way, is the grandson on Jimmy Carter.  Seems to be a rising start within the Senate - I could definitely see him making a stab for leader in a few years.

I'd love for him to move to Plains and primary Bishop in the 2nd.

And almost surely lose? He is white and district is substantially majority-black. I remember a lot of fuss about "white carpetbagger" Cohen representing black-majority district in Tennessee. It subsided somewhat as of late, but it was LOUD....

Cohen had black challengers in the last three democratic primaries and won them with 79, 79, and 89 percent of the vote, so this might not be the best example.

I knew that before you wrote it. But he won his first campaign because he was essentially the only white candidate against 10+ black ones. And even later, while winning primaries handily (but usually - against faulty opponents) - the grumbling persisted...

[smoltchanov]

yea the whole South is just sad at this point.. and the national Dems don't even seem to care, they just laugh or write it off.. ditto with local GA politics, close to rock bottom.. not to mention state parties don't have that much cash.

just take a look at recent senate "nominees" Al Gore in MS (82 year old), Alvin Greene in SC (wacky plant), and Mark Clayton in TN (wacky). it's just a joke.. Dems also didn't really compete for the GA senate in 10, the MS gov seat in 11 (the "Democrats goal is too kill children" guy won) and Louisiana gov same.   

There was also that guy with no website who was a racist that got the AR-4 dem nom (Gene Jeffress).. I mean this kind of stuff should never even happen.

Why not??? If most of HIS voters are racist too, for example.. I was never a big fan of George Wallace, but always supported his statement, explaining why he ran as racist in 1962 and actively thought black votes in 1982. Approximately so: "Alabama was mostly racist in 1962 - so was George Wallace. Now it changed - so did George Wallace"))))