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 Democratic Mayor-President of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana. He held this important role from 2005 to 2016. East Baton Rouge Parish includes the state capital, Baton Rouge, and smaller cities like Baker, Central City, and Zachary.
In 2015, he ran for lieutenant governor but did not win. He lost to Republican Billy Nungesser.
Kip Holden left his position as Mayor-President at the end of 2016. Sharon Weston Broome, also a Democrat, took over his role.
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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 studied law at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge. He earned his law degree (Juris Doctor) in 1985.
Early Career and Public Service
Before becoming a politician, Kip Holden worked as a journalist and later as a lawyer. He also held various public service jobs.
- He worked at the Louisiana Department of Labor.
- He was a public information officer for the Baton Rouge City Police.
- He worked as a public relations specialist for the United States Census Bureau.
- He was a news director at WXOK Radio in Port Allen.
- He worked as a reporter for WWL Radio in New Orleans.
- He was also a reporter for WBRZ Channel 2 in Baton Rouge.
From 1991, he taught law as a professor at Southern University Law Center.
Kip Holden began his political career on the Baton Rouge Metro Council. He represented District 2 from 1984 to 1988. He then served as a Louisiana State Representative for District 63 from 1988 to 2002. After that, he was a Louisiana State Senator for District 15 from 2002 to 2004.
He ran for mayor-president of Baton Rouge in 1996 and 2000 but was not successful in those elections.
Serving as Mayor-President
Becoming Mayor-President in 2004
Kip Holden was elected Mayor-President on November 3, 2004. He won against the Republican who was in office, Bobby Simpson. Holden officially started his term on January 3, 2005.
His election was supported by many people. He received strong backing from both urban Black communities and suburban white voters. This support helped him win the election.
In 2006, Holden joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition. This group was formed by mayors from New York City and Boston. Its goal was to work against illegal guns.
In 2008, Kip Holden was honored by being added to the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.
Re-election Campaigns
Kip Holden was re-elected as Mayor-President in 2008. He won again easily in 2012. In the 2012 election, he received 60 percent of the votes. One of his opponents questioned the city's security services for a speaker at Southern University. Holden won with a clear majority.
Running for Higher Office
2015 Lieutenant Governor Campaign
In 2015, Kip Holden ran for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana. He was one of four candidates. In the first round of voting, he received the most votes. This meant he would go on to a second round, called a runoff election. He faced Billy Nungesser in this runoff.
In the runoff election, Nungesser won with 55.4 percent of the votes. Holden received 44.6 percent. Even though he lost statewide, Holden won easily in his home parish of East Baton Rouge.
2016 Congressional Campaign
In 2016, Kip Holden could not run for Mayor-President again because of term limits. Instead, he 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.
Holden received 20 percent of the votes in this election. The current representative, Cedric Richmond, won with 70 percent. After Holden's term as Mayor-President ended, Sharon Weston Broome took over his role. She had also succeeded him in the state Senate.
Later Life and Passing
Kip Holden passed away on May 14, 2025, at the age of 72. He had been ill and was at a hospice in Baton Rouge.
