Baton Rouge Mayor declares Friday a ‘day of mourning’ for the late Sen. Larry Selders
Jul 09, 2026 | 5:43 pm ET
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State Sen. Larry Selders of Baton Rouge, who died unexpectedly Tuesday, July 7, 2026, served in the Louisiana Legislature since 2021. He was representative for House District 67 until winning the 14th Senate District seat last year. (Louisiana Senate photo)
East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards declared Friday a day of mourning for state Sen. Larry Selders, D-Baton Rouge, who died suddenly Tuesday night.
Edwards, a Republican, said all parish and city flags will be lowered to half-staff Friday, and won’t be raised again until Monday, in honor of Selders, who collapsed at his son’s football practice earlier this week.
“He was always willing to lend a helping hand and was a tireless advocate for Baton Rouge and the people of East Baton Rouge Parish,” the mayor-president said in a press release.
Selders, 44, joined the Louisiana Legislature as a Baton Rouge state representative in 2020. He then won his Senate seat in 2025, succeeding Cleo Fields who had won an election to Congress.
Selders was also the owner and director of Focused Family Services, a substance abuse and mental health rehabilitation clinic in Baton Rouge, and owned a real estate company, Selders Development Group.
He leaves behind his wife, Dr. Kendra Michael, and two sons, Larry and Luke.
Selders’ funeral is expected to take place Tuesday at Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge, LA
