He lost the race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 1952,[4] and in 1954 was elected to the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

"[3] As was typical for Southern Democrats, he ran as a segregationist, insinuating that his chief rival (New Orleans mayor deLesseps Story Morrison) was an integrationist supported by the NAACP.

[6][7] McKeithen's first term saw the construction of the Louisiana Superdome, reforms to the state code of ethics, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The initial forecast was for $35 million, complete with financing by a hotel-motel tax of 4% in the city and neighboring Jefferson Parish that would not rely on credit from the state.

However, the figure doubled in the ensuing years to the point where (due to factors cited by McKeithen as inflation and rising construction costs) that had to see McKeithen sign a lease between the stadium (as chaired by him) and the state that would see the state rental take form in making up any deficits incurred by the stadium.

[11][12] During his second term, a series of articles in Life magazine alleged that he was connected to the New Orleans mafia, though definitive proof did not emerge.