Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District is traditionally Democratic.

Sens. John Breaux, Mary Landrieu, and Gov. Kathleen Blanco all won this district which supports a 57% Democratic advantage in party identification. Bill Clinton twice won the 3rd with double digit margins, and the 3rd was the second strongest in Louisiana for Al Gore in 2000.

With the exception of the suburban areas south of New Orleans, most of the 3rd is rural , dependent on sugarcane, commercial fishing, oil & gas, and the Mississippi River chemical corridor as its economic base.

Charlie Melancon’s base in Assumption Parish is geographically the center of the District, and he enjoys strong political ties in all parishes.