Kip Holden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kip Holden
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| Mayor-President of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – December 31, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Bobby Simpson |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Weston Broome |
| Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 15th district |
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| In office 2002–2004 |
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| Preceded by | Wilson Fields |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Weston Broome |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 63rd district |
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| In office 1988–2002 |
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| Preceded by | Jewel Joseph Newman |
| Succeeded by | Avon Honey |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Melvin Lee Holden
August 12, 1952 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 2025 (aged 72) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Lois Stevenson |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (BA) Southern University, Baton Rouge (MA, JD) |
Melvin Lee "Kip" Holden (August 12, 1952 – May 14, 2025) was an American politician. He served as the Mayor-President of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana. He was a member of the Democratic Party. His time as Mayor-President lasted from 2005 to 2016.
East Baton Rouge Parish includes the state capital, Baton Rouge. It also has smaller cities like Baker, Central City, and Zachary. In 2015, Holden ran for lieutenant governor. He was the Democratic candidate but did not win. Billy Nungesser, a Republican, won that election. After his term ended in 2016, Sharon Weston Broome became the new Mayor-President. She is also a Democrat.
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Early Life and Education
Kip Holden studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 1974. Later, he attended Southern University in Baton Rouge. There, he received a Master of Arts degree in Journalism in 1982. He then went to Southern University Law Center. He graduated with a law degree (Juris Doctor) in 1985.
Early Career and Public Service
Before becoming a politician, Kip Holden worked as a journalist. He also worked as an attorney. He held several jobs in public service. He was a clerk at the Louisiana Department of Labor. He also worked for the Baton Rouge City Police. There, he was a public information officer. He was also a public relations specialist for the United States Census Bureau.
Holden also worked in radio and television. He was a news director at WXOK Radio in Port Allen. He was a reporter for WWL Radio in New Orleans. He also reported for WBRZ Channel 2 in Baton Rouge. From 1991, he taught law at Southern University Law Center.
His political career began in 1984. He was a member of the Baton Rouge Metro Council until 1988. He then served as a Louisiana State Representative. He represented District 63 from 1988 to 2002. From 2002 to 2004, he was a Louisiana State Senator for District 15. He ran for Mayor-President of Baton Rouge in 1996 and 2000 but did not win.
Serving as Mayor-President
Becoming Mayor-President in 2004
Kip Holden was elected Mayor-President on November 3, 2004. He won against the Republican mayor at the time, Bobby Simpson. Holden officially started his term on January 3, 2005. His election was supported by many people. This included his base of urban Black voters. He also received support from suburban white voters. Many business leaders also backed him.
In 2006, Holden joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition. This group was led by mayors from New York City and Boston. They worked together on issues related to gun safety. In 2008, he was honored for his public service. He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.
Reelection Victories
Kip Holden was reelected as Mayor-President in 2008. He won by a large margin, getting 71 percent of the votes. He was reelected again in 2012. He won easily with 60 percent of the votes. He defeated three other candidates in that election.
Campaigns for Higher Office
Running for Lieutenant Governor in 2015
In 2015, Kip Holden ran for lieutenant governor of Louisiana. He was one of four candidates. He received the most votes in the first round. This allowed him to move to a runoff election. He faced Billy Nungesser in the runoff. Nungesser won the election with 55.4 percent of the votes. Holden received 44.6 percent.
Congressional Campaign in 2016
In 2016, Holden could not run for Mayor-President again. This was due to term limits. He then decided to run for the U.S. House. He aimed to represent Louisiana's 2nd congressional district. This district includes parts of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. He ran against fellow Democrat Cedric Richmond. Holden received 20 percent of the votes. Richmond won with 70 percent. After this, Sharon Weston Broome became the new Mayor-President of Baton Rouge.
Later Life and Passing
Kip Holden passed away on May 14, 2025. He was 72 years old. He died in Baton Rouge after an illness.
