James R. Fannin

Who is James R. Fannin?

James Roy Fannin, known as Jim Fannin, is the Democratic chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He is a former educator and active businessman in Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish in north Louisiana, In 2003, Fannin was elected to represent House District 13. He succeeded Rodney Alexander of Quitman, who resigned to become the United States Representative from Louisiana's 5th congressional district. Fannin is chairman of the Louisiana Rural Caucus and a former member of the Legislative Democratic Caucus.

On July 11, 2013, Fannin announced that he has switched his affiliation to the Republican Party. Fannin said that his former party had "moved too far left" for him to remain within the ranks, even as a Blue Dog Democrat. There is speculation that Fannin will run in 2015 for the 35th District seat in the Louisiana State Senate now held by the term-limited Republican incumbent Robert "Bob" Kostelka of Monroe. Days after Fannin's defection, Senator Rick Ward, III, of Iberville Parish also switched parties.