In 1986, a young and inexperienced Thibodaux ran for the 7th Congressional District of Louisiana, a seat that had never been held by a Republican, and lost to Democrat James A. "Jimmy" Hayes of Lafayette.
In 1986, a young and inexperienced Thibodaux ran for the 7th Congressional District of Louisiana. The 33 year old Thibodaux was outmatched and lost to Breaux's hand picked successor Democrat James A. "Jimmy" Hayes of Lafayette.