Simone Champagne
2024 - Present
2028
1
Simone Champagne is an at-large member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Champagne assumed office on January 8, 2024. Champagne's current term ends on January 10, 2028.
Champagne announced that she would resign on December 31, 2014, in order to become the chief administrative officer for the city of Youngsville.[1]
In 2010, Champagne switched parties from Democratic to Republican.[2] According to Champagne, "I have concluded after much discussion and prayer that I can no longer affiliate myself with a party that does not reflect my core values and beliefs. ... I must align myself with the party that most closely represents my vision for the 49th (House) District and the future of this great state."[2]
Governor Jeff Landry (R) appointed Champagne to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on January 5, 2024, to replace Thomas Roque (nonpartisan).[3]
Biography
Simone Champagne worked for 26 years in the banking sector as an operations officer and for 20 years in public service. She served on the St. Joseph Elementary school board and the Acadiana Renaissance Academy school board.[4]
Elections
2011
General election
On October 22, 2011, Champagne won re-election to District 61 of the Louisiana House of Representatives. She defeated John Bering (R) and Larry Rader (D) in the October 22 primary. Because Louisiana uses a blanket primary system, a candidate can be declared the overall winner of the seat by garnering 50 percent +1 of the vote in the primary.
| Louisiana House of Representatives, District 49 Blanket Primary, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Simone Champagne Incumbent |
69.5% | 7,028 | |
| Democratic | Larry Rader | 21.1% | 2,135 | |
| Republican | John Bering | 9.4% | 956 | |
| Total Votes | 10,119 | |||
Special election
Champagne was defeated by Fred Mills, Jr. in the District 22 special election for the Louisiana State Senate. The special election primary took place on January 22. All candidates, regardless of affiliation, appeared on the ballot. Since Mills received more than 50% of the votes, the election did not proceed to a runoff.[5]
| Louisiana State Senate District 22 Special Election (2011) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Fred Mills, Jr. (R)
|
12,812 | |||
| Simone B. Champagne (R) | 4,040 | |||
| David Groner (I) | 2,534 | |||
| Armond Schwing (R) | 1,644 | |||
| Ruben LeBlanc (I) | 208 | |||
| Ken Squires (R) | 172 | |||
2007
Champagne was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2007 as a Democratic candidate. She ran unopposed.[6]
| Louisiana House of Representatives General Election, District 49 (2007) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Simone Champange (D)
|
N/A | |||
Campaign themes
2011
On her campaign site, Champagne emphasized several key policy positions and campaign themes:
- Rebuilding: "Rebuilding Delcambre, Erath, Henry, Lydia, Rynella and all rural areas of Iberia and Vermilion Parishes affected by Hurricane Rita, to restore their quality of life but also give their communities safer, sustainable futures...Maintain and support our sugar industry."
- Development: "Support expansion projects at the Port of Iberia and Twin Parish Port furnishing job opportunities and coastal protection...The development of Eagle Point Park which will help sustain the economy and spark growth throughout the area."
- Infrastructure: "Support infrastructure needs at Acadiana Regional Airport which will furnish economic growth not only in the District but the entire area...Continue the effort of 4-laning Canal Street in Jeanerette...Widening of LA 675 for safety and aiding in the evacuation efforts of the district."
- Support Local Industry: "Maintain and support our sugar industry...Protect our salt domes and the people who live around them...Support and protect our fisheries, culture, recreation and tourism."
- Legislative Agenda: "On the state level, address roads, insurance, health care, education, and coastal restoration...Support strong statewide Ethics Reform."
Campaign finance summary
Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Champagne is a member of the Acadiana Delegation, Democratic Caucus, and Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus, and is Vice Chair of the Louisiana Rural Caucus.[7]
State legislative tenure
Committee assignments
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Champagne served on the following committees:
- Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development
- Appropriations
- Education
- Joint Legislative Budget Committee
- House Committee on Homeland Security
- Joint Committee on Homeland Security
- Select Committee on Hurricane Recovery
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Champagne served on the following committees:
- Subcommittee on General Government Committee, Louisiana House of Representatives
- Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Louisiana State Legislature
- Capital Outlay
- Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Louisiana House of Representatives
2009-2010
- Appropriations
- Joint Legislative Budget Committee
- Municipal
- Natural Resources and Environment
- Subcommittee on General Government
See also
| Louisiana | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ KATC, "Rep. Simone Champagne resigning on Dec. 31," December 4, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Times-Picayune, "Rep. Champagne says she will join Republicans, leveling party balance in House," June 30, 2010
- ↑ 7KPLC, Governor-elect appoints DOTD secretary, Board of Education members, January 5, 2024
- ↑ Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, "Simone Champagne," accessed February 5, 2024
- ↑ The Advertiser, "Mills Wins State Senate Seat In Special Election, Avoids Runoff" January 22, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Election Overview," accessed January 23, 2015
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Champagne, Simone," accessed January 23, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas Roque |
Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education At-large 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Louisiana House of Representatives District 49 2008-2014 |
Succeeded by - |
