Field for Louisiana attorney general includes 3 Republicans, surprise Democrat 

The Louisiana Republican Party-endorsed candidate for attorney general qualified Wednesday for this fall’s election, as did a surprise Democratic candidate who appears to have state party support for her run. 

Liz Murrill, solicitor general for current Attorney General Jeff Landry, officially placed her name on the ballot. She has consistently led the campaign in fundraising and polling. She joined fellow Republicans Marty Maley, a former criminal prosecutor in West Baton Rouge, and state Rep. John Stefanski, R-Crowley. 

Lindsey Cheek, a personal injury attorney from New Orleans, also entered the race Wednesday. She was accompanied by Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt. It is not yet clear if Cheek has official party support, although the party put out a tweet in support of her after she qualified. 

Add her name to the top of the ticket!

Lindsey Cheek is a passionate woman with a heart for service that will restore honor to the office of Attorney General. #LaGov #LaLege pic.twitter.com/N9JDSP6lLa

— Louisiana Democrats (@LaDemos) August 9, 2023

A longshot Democrat, White Castle attorney Perry Walker Terrebonne, qualified Tuesday with little fanfare and made no comments to reporters. 

All three Republicans in the race have branded themselves as tough-on-crime candidates. 

Murrill, the Republican party-endorsed candidate, credited a lack of resources to the limited impact Landry’s office has had in curbing crime in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Justice, which the attorney general leads, should ramp up its cybercrime investigations and expand its Medicaid fraud unit, Murrill said when she addressed reporters after qualifying Wednesday. 

Stefanski, meanwhile, has his sights set on drug crime, touting his legislation to ramp up penalties for fentanyl possession.

Maley, who ran for attorney general in 2015 and lags behind Murrill and Stefanski in fundraising, pointed out that as a long-time criminal prosecutor, he has significantly more experience fighting crime, although he sang the praises of both. 

Cheek also talked up the importance of combating crime, although she emphasized the need to focus on environmental crime. 

“We shouldn’t have cancer all in Louisiana because it’s 2023, and those communities need somebody to fight for them to enforce EPA and LDEQ regulations to hold corporations accountable,” Cheek said. 

Candidates have until 4:30 p.m. Thursday to qualify for the Oct. 14 election.