Republican Rodney Alexander, who took office in 2003, was the incumbent. Alexander was re-elected unopposed in 2008. In 2010 Alexander's opponent in the general election was independent candidate Tom Gibbs, a U.S. Army veteran. Todd Slavant, the owner of a construction and property management company, also sought the Republican nomination.
Republican Charles Boustany, who took office in 2005, was the incumbent. Boustany was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote in 2008. In 2010 Boustany was unopposed for re-election. According to Louisiana law, candidates who are unopposed are declared elected and their names do not appear on the ballot. Boustany raised $1,677,845 and spent $1,258,638. He was re-elected in the 3rd district in 2012 and 2014.
The 7th district included Lafayette, Lake Charles and Sulphur. The district's population was 70 percent white and 26 percent black (see Race and ethnicity in the United States Census); 78 percent were high school graduates and 19 percent had received a bachelor's degree or higher. Its median income was $41,200. In the 2008 presidential election the district gave 63 percent of its vote to Republican nominee John McCain and 35 percent to Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
Republican Bill Cassidy, who took office in 2009, was the incumbent. Cassidy was elected in 2008 with 48 percent of the vote. In 2010 his opponent in the general election was Democratic nominee Merritt McDonald Sr., a retired Engineer. Cassidy and McDonald were both unopposed in their parties' primaries.
Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the race as "Likely Republican". In October 2010 The Cook Political Report rated the race as "Likely Republican". In November 2010 The Rothenberg Political Report rated the race as "Republican Favored". Prior to the election FiveThirtyEight's forecast gave Landry a 94 percent chance of winning and projected that he would receive 55 percent of the vote to Sangisetti's 43 percent. On election day Landry was elected with 64 percent of the vote to Sangisetty's 36 percent. Landry unsuccessfully ran for re-election in 2012.
Cassidy raised $1,584,256 and spent $738,171. Prior to the election FiveThirtyEight's forecast gave Cassidy a 100 percent chance of winning and projected that he would receive 64 percent of the vote to McDonald's 33 percent. On election day Cassidy was re-elected with 66 percent of the vote to McDonald's 34 percent. Cassidy was again re-elected in 2012, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014.
