One of fourteen candidates in Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election held on October 19, 2013, Russell finished in eighth place with 2,554 votes (2 percent).
He attended Tulane University in New Orleans, from which he obtained an education degree and played on the Green Wave varsity football and track teams, He was a member of the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.
[7] Representative Russell said that through the Louisiana Rural Caucus he helped to deliver crucial votes to pass legislation establishing the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans.
[10] The congressional special election was called because Republican Rodney Alexander resigned effective September 26 to become the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
[7] The runoff election for the U.S. House seat was held on November 16; political newcomer Vance McAllister defeated State Senator Neil Riser of Columbia in Caldwell Parish to win the right to succeed Alexander for the remainder of the existing term.