Kip Holden, Baton Rouge’s First Black Mayor-President, Dies at 72

BATON ROUGE, La. — Melvin “Kip” Holden, the first Black Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish and a towering figure in Louisiana politics, died early Wednesday following a lengthy illness. He was 72.

Holden passed away at Carpenter House, according to a statement released by his wife, Lois Stevenson Holden. Funeral arrangements are pending.

A former journalist, attorney, and three-term mayor-president, Holden led Baton Rouge from 2005 to 2016. His administration spanned the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to the devastating floods of 2016 and was marked by major civic initiatives that reshaped the city’s landscape and identity.

“Kip Holden was a transformative servant leader,” said Baker Mayor Darnell Waits. “He opened doors for so many of us in public service and always reminded us to keep the people at the center of our work. Whether he was walking the halls of the Capitol or comforting citizens in times of crisis, Kip led with grace, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to unity. The City of Baker mourns his loss and honors his remarkable life.”

Born Aug. 12, 1952, in New Orleans, Holden was raised in Baton Rouge and graduated from Scotlandville Senior High School. He earned a journalism degree from LSU, a master’s degree from Southern University, and a law degree from the Southern University Law Center. His professional life began in media, working as a reporter and news director for stations including WXOK, WWL, and WBRZ.

Holden entered public office in 1984 as a Metro Council member, followed by service in the Louisiana House of Representatives and a brief term in the State Senate. In 2004, after two previous unsuccessful bids, he was elected Mayor-President, becoming the first African American to hold the role. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2012.

“He was not only a colleague but a friend who led with vision, courage, and heart,” said State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle. “His work revitalizing downtown and expanding opportunities for our community is a legacy that will endure for generations. Kip was a true public servant and a proud son of Baton Rouge. We have lost a giant.”

Holden’s administration launched the Green Light Plan to overhaul parish roads and initiated the FutureBR planning process to guide long-term development. His leadership helped bring national attention to Baton Rouge by attracting events such as the Miss USA pageant and Bayou Country Superfest. He also established an HIV/AIDS task force and championed economic growth in underserved communities.

Sharon Weston Broome, who succeeded him as Mayor-President, said Holden’s contributions laid the groundwork for the city’s future.

“Kip Holden’s passing marks the end of a powerful chapter in Baton Rouge history,” Broome said. “As the first African American to hold the office of Mayor-President, Kip broke barriers and led during some of the city’s most difficult and defining moments. He believed in the potential of our people and worked to elevate this parish through innovation and collaboration. I am grateful for the foundation he laid and the example he set.”

Holden was praised for his visible, hands-on leadership after Hurricane Katrina, when Baton Rouge’s population nearly doubled overnight. He opened the River Center to evacuees and lobbied federal officials for recovery aid. However, his low public profile during the 2016 flood drew criticism and fueled political tension in his final term.

State Rep. Barbara West Carpenter remembered Holden as a visionary leader grounded in compassion and intellect.

“Kip was bold, brilliant, and always anchored in service to his community,” Carpenter said. “He made history not just by being elected, but by how he governed—with compassion, strength, and a deep commitment to unity. His legacy is etched into the soul of Baton Rouge.”

Ivory D. Payne, publisher of The Baton Rouge Weekly Press, called Holden “a statesman who mastered the art of public connection.”

“Kip Holden was the people’s mayor,” Payne said. “He could walk into a boardroom or a barber shop and speak the language of both worlds with clarity and conviction. His journey from journalist to public servant inspired a generation of Black professionals to believe that leadership was not just possible—it was necessary. Baton Rouge owes him a deep debt of gratitude.”

Despite strong bipartisan support locally, Holden's statewide ambitions were less successful. He led a four-candidate field in the 2015 lieutenant governor’s race but lost the runoff to Billy Nungesser. A 2016 congressional bid in Louisiana’s 2nd District was also unsuccessful.

He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in 2008.

Holden is survived by his wife, five children, and two sisters.