Term limits cleared out much of Louisiana’s Legislature within the last few years, and some of those lawmakers weren’t ready to go when their time was up. Now, a few longtime legislators are trying to return, seeking to oust those who took their place. Locally, speculation continues that Cleo Fields, a former congressman forced out of the Senate by term limits four years ago, may try to make a return to his District 14 seat. If he gets in the race, Fields would face incumbent Sen. Yvonne Dorsey and Rep. Michael Jackson, who is term-limited in the House. All three are Democrats.
Others hitting their three-term caps in the House are trying to switch to the Senate, in bids either to unseat incumbent senators or to step into vacant seats, so they don’t have to leave the State Capitol. A lawmaker’s time is capped at three consecutive, four-year terms in one chamber. But there is no lifetime limit, so House members and senators can seek election to the other chamber after reaching their term limits. They can also leave and then seek to come back after hitting their cap. In southwest Louisiana, James David Cain of Dry Creek is hoping to force Sen. John Smith of Leesville out of the seat Cain held before term limits prevented him from making a re-election bid four years ago. Both men are Republicans.
Today’s poll question: Should the state’s term limits law set a lifetime cap on how long elected officials can serve in the Legislature?
