John Breaux

From dKosopedia

Category: Louisiana Democrats

John Berlinger Breaux (born March 1, 1944) was a U.S. Senator from Louisiana from 1987 until 2005.

Breaux was widely known as a "maverick" and one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate. Nevertheless he was aggressive at campaigning for fellow Democrats in Louisiana and (unlike fellow Senator Zell Miller of Georgia, known as well as a maverick Democrat) did not endorse George W. Bush in 2004.

He was widely respected by both sides as a centrist and was known for rallying moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats together on key legislation.

Breaux was elected in 1986 and easily reelected in 1992 and 1998. He surprised many by announcing in 2003 that he would not be running again in 2004, and despite his clout in Louisiana was unable to secure a victory in the 2004 Senate race for Democrat Chris John, whom Breaux had endorsed. Instead, Republican David Vitter won 51% in the November 2 election and avoided a December runoff, becoming Louisiana's first Republican Senator since the 1870's.

Breaux considered running for Governor in 2007, but decided against it because of concerns that he would not qualify as a state resident. (See Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2007)

External Links

• BREAUX, John Berlinger from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-Present