Louisiana House District 67 will hold a special election on May 3, 2025, with a runoff scheduled for June 7 if no candidate secures a majority. The seat was vacated after Larry Selders’ February 15 victory for a state Senate seat, in an election that saw a notably low voter turnout of just 9.5 percent. James “Sonny” Marchbanks is one of three Democrats vying to serve out the remaining two years of Selders’ term in this majority-Black Baton Rouge district.
Background and Motivation
Marchbanks says he grew up in a working-class family—his father worked in the oil field, and his mother was a waitress. To finance his education, he bartended and served tables before earning his undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and later completing a master’s degree in political science at LSU. Marchbanks notes these experiences shaped his perspective on the day-to-day struggles of many Louisianans.
Professional Experience
According to his LinkedIn profile, Marchbanks is currently a project manager at SNA Contracting LLC, a Shreveport-based construction company. He has also worked for a local attorney and served as executive assistant and office manager for former Republican Metro Councilman John Delgado. He was previously registered as an unaffiliated voter until January 2025, when he switched his registration to the Democratic Party.
Policy Priorities
In an interview, Marchbanks identified universal pre-K as his main legislative goal, emphasizing the significance of early childhood education. “If there’s one thing that I can do in the Louisiana legislature… it’s passing universal pre-K,” he said, describing it as a foundational investment that can improve long-term outcomes.
He further underscored public transportation challenges, referencing personal experience with time-consuming bus commutes. “It shouldn’t be so hard to get to work,” Marchbanks argued, tying efficient transit to economic opportunity. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of addressing neighborhood safety. “I’ve lived in this district for 11 years,” he said, “I know what it’s like to hear gunshots on a Tuesday night or Sunday morning. And it was important to me that somebody talk about these things.”
Party and Representation
While Marchbanks is now a Democrat, he has stated he is open to working with colleagues across the aisle. “While I’m proud to be a Democrat, there is more that we have in common than divides us,” he explained. In discussing partisan differences, he said he once viewed Democrats as wearing “rose-colored glasses” while Republicans were more practical—adding that now, in his view, “Democrats are the practical ones.” According to Marchbanks, one party is heading toward what he termed a “suicide pact,” while the other is “more rational,” focused on building “a better world for our children.”
The district itself, which faces ongoing economic and social challenges, is majority-Black, and Marchbanks says he hopes to address the concerns of all constituents. “At the end of the day, all we want is a better world for our children. That’s what I’m working for,” he said.
Focus on Voter Engagement
With a potential for voter fatigue—given the March 29 constitutional amendments vote and historically low turnout in February—Marchbanks has emphasized kitchen-table issues such as healthcare affordability, education quality, and jobs. He describes himself as an introvert who is motivated by policy rather than attention. “I’m not doing this for attention,” he remarked, suggesting that community-based solutions and on-the-ground organizing are essential to attracting more people to the polls.
Looking Ahead
Marchbanks is running against Terry Landry Jr. and Malcolm Myer in the May 3 primary. If no candidate obtains more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two will advance to a June 7 runoff. The winner will serve out the final two years of the term in House District 67 — an area in Baton Rouge where low turnout, economic disparities, and calls for improved social services continue to shape the political conversation.
