He was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate in the November 21, 2015 race for lieutenant governor, losing to Republican Billy Nungesser.

He vacated his position as Mayor-President at the end of 2016 and was succeeded by Sharon Weston Broome, another member of the Democratic Party.

[1] He studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 1974.

[2] He served as Louisiana State Senator from District 15 from 2002 until 2004[3] He ran unsuccessfully for mayor-president of Baton Rouge in 1996 and 2000.

Holden handily won reelection in the nonpartisan blanket primary held in conjunction with the national election on November 6, 2012.

One of his opponents, Republican J. Michael "Mike" Walker Sr., a member of the Metro Council, questioned Holden and the city-parish for having provided security services for Louis Farrakhan when the Nation of Islam spokesman addressed a group on October 3 at Southern University.

[9] In 2016, Holden, who was term-limited as Mayor-President in Baton Rouge, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House to represent Louisiana's 2nd congressional district held by fellow Democrat Cedric Richmond.