Beth Mizell
2016 - Present
2028
8
Beth Mizell (Republican Party) is a member of the Louisiana State Senate, representing District 12. She assumed office on January 11, 2016. Her current term ends on January 10, 2028.
Mizell (Republican Party) won re-election to the Louisiana State Senate to represent District 12 outright in the primary on October 14, 2023, after the general election was canceled.
Mizell began serving as the Senate president pro tempore in 2020.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Mizell was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Education Committee
- Health & Welfare Committee
- Judiciary C Committee
- Senate Retirement Committee
- Joint Legislative Budget Committee
- Joint Capital Outlay Committee
- Select Committee on Louisiana Economic Recovery
2021-2022
Mizell was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Education Committee
- Health & Welfare Committee
- Judiciary C Committee
- Senate Retirement Committee
- Joint Capital Outlay Committee
- Joint Legislative Budget Committee
2019-2020
Mizell was assigned to the following committees:
- Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs Committee
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate Retirement Committee
Sponsored legislation
Elections
2023
See also: Louisiana State Senate elections, 2023
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Louisiana State Senate District 12
Incumbent Beth Mizell won election outright against Brittany Gondolfi and Gloria Kates in the primary for Louisiana State Senate District 12 on October 14, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Beth Mizell (R) | 78.2 | 24,003 |
 | Brittany Gondolfi (D) | 12.5 | 3,842 | |
 | Gloria Kates (D) | 9.2 | 2,838 | |
| Total votes: 30,683 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Mizell received the following endorsements.
2019
See also: Louisiana State Senate elections, 2019
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Louisiana State Senate District 12
Incumbent Beth Mizell won election outright against Darrell Fairburn in the primary for Louisiana State Senate District 12 on October 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Beth Mizell (R) | 68.6 | 24,590 |
| Darrell Fairburn (D) | 31.4 | 11,266 | |
| Total votes: 35,856 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2015
- See also: Louisiana State Senate elections, 2015
Elections for the Louisiana State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on October 24, 2015, with a general election held in districts where necessary on November 21, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 10, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. CDT.[1]
Louisiana elections use the Louisiana majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article. Mickey Murphy (D), Brett Duncan (R), Beth Mizell (R) and John Seal (I) faced off in the October 24 blanket primary. Murphy and Mizell advanced to the November 21 runoff, where Mitzell won election.[2][3]
| Louisiana State Senate, District 12 Primary Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Beth Mizell |
43.4% | 14,344 | |
| Democratic | Mickey Murphy |
32.6% | 10,767 | |
| Republican | Brett Duncan | 20.6% | 6,827 | |
| Independent | John Seal | 3.4% | 1,138 | |
| Total Votes | 33,076 | |||
| Louisiana State Senate, District 12 Runoff Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Beth Mizell |
58% | 19,404 | |
| Democratic | Mickey Murphy | 42% | 14,033 | |
| Total Votes | 33,437 | |||
2011
- See also: Louisiana State Senate elections, 2011
Mizell ran in the 2011 election for Louisiana Senate District 12. She was defeated by incumbent Ben Nevers (D) in the primary election on October 22, 2011. 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.[4]
| Louisiana State Senate District 12 Blanket Primary, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Ben Nevers Incumbent |
50.6% | 15,116 | |
| Republican | Beth Mizell | 49.4% | 14,764 | |
| Total Votes | 29,880 | |||
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Beth Mizell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Beth Mizell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mizell's responses.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am passionate about fair treatment for all, that revenue needs does not have our citizens become revenue streams, that our rural areas are not second class to those in larger urban areas. I want to see our retirement systems flourish and provide income as promised to our employees without encumbering our small towns with the burden.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I admire Lincoln, Kennedy and Reagan in a large way. My Aunt Norma as the matriarch of my family. They all exemplify leadership and the ability to have people willing to work harder toward a goal they may have thought beyond their reach.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Mr Smith Goes to Washington on my efforts in the Senate; my service to my district is based on the New Testament model to serve.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty and integrity sound old school and trite but are absolutely a basic to serving our constituents. It takes a strong backbone to stand when others attack you for taking that stand, even though you promised that commitment to your district. Prayer and the strong feeling of commitment allows the follow through on those promises.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
Courage, steadfastness and a strong work ethic with a belief in fairness to all.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To serve, to be present and to listen. When possible find ways to connect the need to the solution, but that is not always possible. It is always possible to listen and serve.
What legacy would you like to leave?
That I had made a difference for the good of all.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Vague memories of playing with my older brother, probably 4 years old
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Besides being a teenage babysitter, I worked at Pan American Life Insurance as file clerk to executive secretary for 5 years (until the birth of my first child).
What is your favorite book? Why?
Right now it's the Power of Habit--it's a wealth of information and illustrations on improving what we may not notice. I love Dodsworth by Sinclair Lewis and the Screwtape Letters by C.S.Lewis; hard to decide!
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Baby you can drive my car, The Beatles
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I lost my husband seven years ago to lung cancer. Being a widow on a farm has been a trial but has strengthened me in many ways.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
The Senate has a smaller body that allows for closer relationships than our House. That smaller size and the relationships formed allow for discussion and personal understanding between our members.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
I believe the most important component is a set of values or a belief system that will allow a member to have a compass to guide them through areas they may have no previous experience in.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Reform in fiscal issues, establishing a clearer process of revenue (especially with businesses), tort reform (to ease the lawsuit climate existing currently) and repair to the retirement systems that are suffering with high UALs and municipalities suffering from it).
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
To allow the legislature to represent those who elected them without squelching their purpose.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes, even if we disagree we can work together while respecting those differences and the areas of the state represented by our colleagues.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
Education, I found especially interesting as it affects so much of what we see as our potential and is a measure of success for our future economic prosperity.
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
Many stories have been shared of frustrations with bureaucracy, sometimes with slight inconvenience others with heartbreaking affects.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2015
| “ | Jobs
We need to make our area, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Tammany Parishes, a magnet for jobs and business opportunities. I will work closely with job creators to create the nation’s best business climate… right here in Louisiana. We need to remove regulations that stifle growth and reduce taxes on businesses. Government must get out of the way and let Americans do what we do best. K-12 Education We owe our children an education that provides a life with opportunities. Our children must be able to compete with kids around the world… not just down the street. We need standards that set a path for true success for every child, and schools that are worthy of our children. Higher Ed, SLU & Healthcare Southeastern Louisiana University is a vital part of our Northshore community. Higher Ed, in general, is critical to our state’s future. I will fight hard to protect funding for higher education, especially at SLU. Budget crises have now become annual events… and healthcare and higher ed usually receive the bulk of the cuts because of Louisiana’s arcane maze of dedications that protects funding for lower priority items. As your senator, I will address these issues directly and help to bring fiscal responsibility to the State Capitol. Louisiana Values We must do everything possible to protect the lives of the unborn, defend people of faith from discrimination in the public square, and preserve the Louisiana values that have served our state so well for 200 years. We must be vigilant in our efforts to protect every citizen’s right to keep and bear arms, as guaranteed to us by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. A lot is changing in America these days, but I want to make sure that the generations to come enjoy the same hunting and fishing that we know… and that we always maintain the ability to defend ourselves.[5][6] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Louisiana scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from April 10 to June 8.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from March 14 to June 6.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from April 12 to June 10.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from March 9 to June 1. The session was suspended from March 31 through May 4. A special session convened from June 1 to June 30 and from September 28 to October 23.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from April 8 through June 6.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from March 12 through May 18.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from April 10 through June 8. The legislature held its first special session from February 13 to February 22. The legislature held its second special session from June 8 to June 16.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Louisiana State Legislature was in session from March 14 through June 6. A special session was held from February 14 to March 9 to address the state's budget gap. A second special session was held from June 6 to June 23.
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See also
2023 Elections
External links
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Candidate Louisiana State Senate District 12 |
Officeholder Louisiana State Senate District 12 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "2015 Elections," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Candidate Inquiry," accessed October 13, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results," October 22, 2011
- ↑ Beth Mizell, homepage, accessed October 27, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Louisiana State Senate District 12 2016-Present |
Succeeded by - |
