During her first term as US President, Mary Landrieu created an Internet sales tax, legalized same-sex civil unions, signed an immigration reform bill, and imposed sanctions on Iraq for its successful invasion of Kuwait. Despite these achievements, she was widely criticized for providing $4.3 billion for Louisiana's American NHS.

The 2012 Socialist presidential primary was won by Senator David Bonior, who defeated Bernie Sanders and several other candidates. Bonior ran on a platform of raising taxes on the wealthy, increasing funding for healthcare and education, and focusing on diplomacy over military action.

Bonior criticized Landrieu's interventionist foreign policies and support for free trade, as well as her administration's failure to reduce income inequality. The Democratic-Republicans, on the other hand, attacked Bonior's proposals as economically unsound.

Many Socialists refused to support Bonior due to his pro-life stance on abortion. He refused to compromise on this issue, prompting a great number leftists to vote for third-party candidates or just stay home. Furthermore, Landrieu was a popular president; her swift response to Hurricane Sandy boosted her popularity.

On November 6, 2012, Landrieu was reelected with 301 electoral votes and 50% of the vote versus 237 seats and 47% of the vote for Bonior. Despite losing the election, Bonior flipped Michigan, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Maine's 2nd congressional district by making gains with the white working class and college students.

Landrieu and Vice President Mitt Romney were inaugurated for a second term on January 20, 2013. Romney was later elected to succeed her in 2016.