Thomas H. Hudson

Thomas H. "Tommy" Hudson
Louisiana State Senator for District 15 (including East Baton Rouge Parish)
In office 1976–1988
Preceded by	J. D. DeBlieux
Succeeded by	Larry S. Bankston
Louisiana State Senate President Pro Tempore
In office 1984–1988
Preceded by	Theodore M. Hickey
Succeeded by	Samuel B. Nunez, Jr.
Personal details
Born	November 23, 1946 Russellville, Pope County Arkansas, USA
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Parents	Henry E. and Cecile Stanford Hudson
Residence	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Alma mater	Louisiana State University Louisiana State University Law Center
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Presbyterian

Thomas H. Hudson, known as Tommy Hudson (born November 23, 1946), is a lawyer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana,^[1] who from 1976 to 1988 was a Democratic three-term member of the Louisiana State Senate for District 15, based about East Baton Rouge Parish. He was the State Senate President Pro Tempore in his third term from 1984 to 1988.^[2]

The son of Henry E. Hudson and the former Cecile Stanford, Hudson was born in Russellville in Pope County in northwestern Arkansas. He graduated from both Louisiana State University and Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge. He is a Presbyterian.^[1]

Hudson won the District 15 state Senate seat in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary held on November 1, 1975. He unseated incumbent J. D. DeBlieux, another Baton Rouge Democrat lawyer. A favorite of the civil rights community, DeBlieux actually lost the African-American vote to Hudson because DeBlieux refused to give black ministers funding for their pledged support. "You should be raising money for me and giving me money to help in my election. I shouldn't be giving you money," DeBlieux told the clergymen. He added that he never gave the ministers any funds.^[3]

In 1986, while midway in his last Senate term, Hudson waged a challenge to Republican State Representative Richard Hugh Baker of Baton Rouge for Louisiana's 6th congressional district vacated by Republican Henson Moore, ran ran instead unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Democrat Russell B. Long. Baker prevailed with 76,833 votes (51 percent) to Hudson's 67,774 (45 percent). The remaining 6,120 votes (4 percent) was held by a second Democrat, Willis Erwin Blackwell, Sr. (1924-2007), an African-American civil rights advocate and declared supporter of "honesty in government." A native of Bogalusa, Blackwell resided in Holden in Livingston Parish.^[4][5] Moore, meanwhile, lost to U.S. House colleague John Breaux, then of Louisiana's 7th congressional district, since disbanded, for the right to succeed the veteran Senator Long.

Hudson did not seek a fourth term in the Senate, an option no longer allowed for Louisiana lawmakers who are restricted to three terms. He was succeeded by a fellow Democrat Baton Rouge lawyer, Larry S. Bankston, son of local Democrat powerhouse Jesse Bankston.

References

1. "Louisiana: Hudson, Thomas H.", Who's Who in American Politics, 2007-2008 (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, New Jersey, 2007), p. 661
2. "Membership of the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-Present" (PDF). senate.la.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
3. George Morris, "A Civil Servant: J. D. DeBlieux fought in the Legislature for civil rights", The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, March 9, 1998
4. "Willis Erwin Blackwell". findagrave.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
5. "Election Results". Louisiana Secretary of State. September 27, 1986. Retrieved June 23, 2015.