C. Denise Marcelle is a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, representing District 61 in East Baton Rouge Parish, particularly north Baton Rouge. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, she is an ordained minister, paralegal, and director of community outreach for attorney Gordon McKernan. She won a special election in October 2015 to succeed Alfred C. Williams, defeating Donna Collins-Lewis with 60.6% of the vote, assumed office in October 2016, and secured re-elections in 2019 and 2023 without opposition in the latter. Previously, she served on the Baton Rouge Metro Council and Board of Ethics, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor-president of Baton Rouge in 2016. Notable achievements include sponsoring bills prohibiting state employers from inquiring about criminal history pre-interview, allowing installment payments for motor vehicle fees, and creating a law enforcement body camera task force. She focuses on criminal justice reform, economic development, flood response, expanding healthcare, eliminating food deserts, and promoting equity regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

Education and Political Experience

Education: Attended Baton Rouge Magnet High School ; earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Southern University and A&M College in 2011.

Political Experience:
- State Representative, District 61 .
- Committees: Appropriations, House and Governmental Affairs, Municipal/Parochial and Cultural Affairs, Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, House Select Committee on Women and Children.
- Caucuses: Democratic Caucus, Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus, Capital Region Legislative Delegation.
- Prior roles: Baton Rouge Metro Council member; state government positions at Department of Revenue and Public Service Commission; director of outreach for a local law firm.
- Legislative priorities: Neighborhood crime prevention, juvenile protections, utility billing oversight, health/visitation rights for incarcerated parents, police academies, alternative courts, transit improvements, blight reduction, and attracting developers.