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Woody Jenkins: A Louisiana Political Chronicle

An analytical exploration of his legislative tenure, electoral campaigns, and journalistic contributions.

Career Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ Senate Campaigns ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

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Overview

Journalist and Legislator

Louis Elwood Jenkins Jr., widely known as Woody Jenkins, is an American newspaper editor based in Baton Rouge and Central City, Louisiana. His career spans decades in public service and journalism. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 to 2000, representing constituents in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Electoral Pursuits

Beyond his legislative role, Jenkins mounted three notable, albeit unsuccessful, campaigns for the United States Senate in 1978, 1980, and 1996. These campaigns highlighted his engagement with state and national political discourse.

Constitutional Contributions

Jenkins played a significant role as a delegate to Louisiana's state constitutional convention (1972-1974). He was instrumental in drafting the new constitution's Declaration of Rights, contributing substantively to the foundational legal framework of the state.

Early Life and Education

Origins

Woody Jenkins was born Louis Elwood Jenkins Jr. on January 3, 1947, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His parents were Louis Elwood Jenkins Sr. and Doris Rowlett.

Academic Foundation

He pursued higher education at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1969. This academic background provided the foundation for his subsequent career in both media and politics.

State Constitutional Convention

Drafting a New Constitution

Jenkins was elected as a delegate to Louisiana's state constitutional convention, which convened from late 1972 through early 1974. During this period, he served on the Committee on Bill of Rights and Elections.

Key Contributions

His most significant contribution was authoring substantial portions of the new constitution's Declaration of Rights. This work formed a critical component of the revised state constitution, which was ratified by voters in April 1974 and remains in effect, albeit with subsequent amendments.

Louisiana House of Representatives

Tenure and Service

Woody Jenkins served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for an extended period, from 1972 to 2000. During his tenure, he represented districts within East Baton Rouge Parish, engaging directly with state legislative matters.

Legislative Stances

Jenkins demonstrated specific policy positions during his legislative career. Notably, he and Dan Richey were the sole House members to oppose the state appropriations bill in 1976, which passed with overwhelming support. He also voiced strong opinions on issues such as forced bussing, advocating for constitutional amendments against it.

United States Senate Campaigns

Early Senate Bids (1978 & 1980)

Jenkins challenged incumbent Democrats J. Bennett Johnston Jr. in 1978 and Russell B. Long in 1980 for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Running as a Democrat in these races, he focused on securing funding for key state facilities like the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant and Barksdale Air Force Base. He criticized Johnston's voting record, particularly concerning energy resource allocation.

1996 Senate Election Controversy

Jenkins' 1996 campaign for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Mary Landrieu was marked by significant controversy. His campaign hired a firm for automated phone calls, which had previously worked for David Duke, a white supremacist and fellow Republican primary candidate. Jenkins was fined $3,000 by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for payment irregularities related to this firm. While Jenkins maintained he was unaware of Duke's financial benefit from the transaction, his signed agreement with the FEC acknowledged knowledge of Duke's prior association with the firm.

U.S. House Special Election (2008)

Candidacy and Endorsements

Following U.S. Representative Richard Baker's resignation, Jenkins announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the special election for Louisiana's 6th congressional district in January 2008. His campaign garnered endorsements from conservative organizations like the Club for Growth Political Action Committee and figures such as Dr. James Dobson. He also received support from the East Baton Rouge Parish Republican Party and the NRA Political Victory Fund.

Primary and Runoff

Jenkins led the Republican primary field but narrowly missed securing the nomination outright. He entered a runoff against Laurinda L. Calongne. Jenkins ultimately won the runoff with 61.94% of the vote.

Republican Primary (March 1, 2008):

CandidatePartyVotes%
Woody JenkinsRepublican14,90049.87%
Laurinda L. CalongneRepublican7,60925.47%
Paul SawyerRepublican6,93923.23%
Michael CloonanRepublican4271.43%

Republican Primary Runoff (April 5, 2008):

CandidatePartyVotes%
Woody JenkinsRepublican15,17961.94%
Laurinda L. CalongneRepublican9,32738.06%

General Election Outcome

In the general election held on May 3, 2008, Jenkins faced Democrat Don Cazayoux. Despite endorsements from prominent Republicans, including Governor Bobby Jindal and members of the state's congressional delegation, Jenkins lost the election to Cazayoux by a margin of 49.20% to 46.27%.

Later Developments

Election Denialism

In the latter part of 2020 and into early 2021, Jenkins published a series of articles expressing support for the claims of a stolen election made by former President Donald Trump and his allies. This stance marked a significant development in his public commentary during that period.

Electoral Data

Key Election Results

Detailed results from Jenkins' significant electoral campaigns provide insight into voter support and political dynamics.

1996 U.S. Senate Election in Louisiana

Primary, September 21, 1996

CandidatePartyVotes%
Woody JenkinsRepublican322,24426.23%
Mary LandrieuDemocratic264,26821.51%
Richard IeyoubDemocratic250,68220.41%
David DukeRepublican141,48911.52%
Jimmy HayesRepublican71,6995.84%
Bill LinderRepublican58,2434.74%
Chuck McMainsRepublican45,1643.68%
Peggy WilsonRepublican31,8772.6%
Troyce GuiceDemocratic15,2771.24%
Nicholas J. AccardoOther10,0350.82%
Arthur D. "Jim" NicholsOther7,8940.64%
Sadie Roberts-JosephDemocratic4,6600.38%
Tom KirkOther1,9870.16%
Darryl Paul WardOther1,7700.14%
Sam Houston Melton Jr.Other1,2700.1%
Total1,228,559100%

Runoff, November 5, 1996

CandidatePartyVotes%
Mary LandrieuDemocratic852,94550.17%
Woody JenkinsRepublican847,15749.83%
Total1,700,102100%

Democratic hold

Louisiana's 6th Congressional District Special Election, 2008

Republican Primary, March 1, 2008

CandidatePartyVotes%
Woody JenkinsRepublican14,90049.87%
Laurinda L. CalongneRepublican7,60925.47%
Paul SawyerRepublican6,93923.23%
Michael CloonanRepublican4271.43%
Total29,875100%

Republican Primary Runoff, April 5, 2008

CandidatePartyVotes%
Woody JenkinsRepublican15,17961.94%
Laurinda L. CalongneRepublican9,32738.06%
Total24,506100%

General Election, May 3, 2008

CandidatePartyVotes%
Don CazayouxDemocratic49,70249.20%
Woody JenkinsRepublican46,74146.27%
Ashley CaseyNone3,7183.68%
Peter J. AranyosiNone4480.44%
Randall T. HayesOther4020.40%
Total101,011100%

Democratic gain from Republican

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References

References

  1.  "Jenkins vows to back defense projects at conference in Minden", Minden Press-Herald, March 10, 1978, p. 1
  2.  The Advocate: Washington Watch for January 21, 2008
  3.  The Advocate: Richard Baker to resign
  4.  Jindal Endorses Jenkins For 6th District Seat
  5.  2theadvocate.com | Legislature & Politics | Breaux endorses Cazayoux รขย€ย” Baton Rouge, LA
A full list of references for this article are available at the Woody Jenkins Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data, primarily the Wikipedia article on Woody Jenkins, and may not encompass all nuances or represent the most current information.

This is not professional advice. The information provided herein does not constitute legal, political, or journalistic counsel. It is essential to consult official sources and qualified professionals for specific analyses or advice related to political careers, legislative processes, or journalistic ethics.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided.