Election 2023

A yard sign against Ohio Issue 1 in Mount Vernon, Ohio

Ohio voters reject Issue 1 constitutional amendment changes, the Associated Press projects

BY: - August 8, 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters have rejected state Issue 1, which sought to make it harder for voters to pass constitutional amendments, the Associated Press has projected. The full counting of unofficial results is ongoing, but the AP has officially projected that the “No” side has won. As of 10 p.m., with three-fourths of precincts […]

Mike Strain

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain signs up to run for reelection

BY: - August 8, 2023

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain signed up Tuesday to seek his fifth term in statewide office. A veterinarian from St. Tammany Parish, Strain won his first election to run the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007. The commissioner, a Republican, currently has no major opponents, but candidates have until 4:30 p.m. Thursday to qualify […]

A man speaks at a podium while a woman stands next to him

On Day 1 of qualifying, Louisiana candidates slam business as usual — and one another 

BY: - August 8, 2023

“M-O-N-E-Y.”  That’s what drives the “corruption and cronyism” at the capitol, state Treasurer John Schroder, a Republican, told the press as he qualified to run for governor, a position he says he will use to run the state in an honest and transparent manner.  But when asked for an example of the cronyism he’s campaigning […]

State Rep. John Stefanski, R-Crowley, joined by family members, speaks to reporters after qualifying Aug. 8, 2023, for the state attorney general's race at the Louisiana State Archives building in Baton Rouge.

Election 2023: Qualifying for this fall’s Louisiana races is under way

BY: - August 8, 2023

The qualifying period for candidates in Louisiana’s elections runs from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Those seeking statewide offices will sign up at the State Archives building in Baton Rouge, while those entering legislative races and seeking local office will qualify with their local clerks of court. Chester Pritchett, of the birthday party, […]

Aerial view of Louisiana State Capitol building

Three candidates say they’ll voluntarily ‘weaken’ the governor’s office if elected

BY: - August 4, 2023

Three of the seven candidates for Louisiana governor said they would voluntarily give up some of the office’s wide-ranging power and influence if elected this fall to replace Gov. John Bel Edwards. “I think the power of the governor is too strong,” said former business lobbyist and Republican candidate Stephen Waguespack at the annual conference […]

Liz Murrill

Louisiana Republican Party endorses Liz Murrill for attorney general 

BY: - August 3, 2023

The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed one of Attorney General Jeff Landry’s top deputies, Liz Murrill, in the race to replace him, the party announced Thursday.  “With a new governor, legislature, and attorney general, we will have an opportunity to bring true conservative reform to state government,” Murrill said in a press release. “Now is the […]

Sen. Bill Cassidy

Louisiana U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy endorses Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor

BY: - July 31, 2023

Louisiana’s senior U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has endorsed Attorney General Jeff Landry over four other Republicans in the governor’s race, despite the two men taking different approaches to politics in recent years. “Today, I endorse Jeff Landry for governor. There are good people in the race, and I am friends with most. But as I’ve […]

Attorney General Jeff Landry answers questions April 26, 2023, at the PAR gubernatorial candidates forum held at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.

Other Republicans in the Louisiana governor’s race criticize Jeff Landry

BY: - July 31, 2023

Republicans running for Louisiana governor have ramped up attacks on the presumed GOP frontrunner in the race, Attorney General Jeff Landry.  Landry has become a target for other candidates after leading in recent polls. The attorney general has also raised more money than anyone else in the race.  The most recent criticism came from candidate […]

Attorney General Jeff Landry answers questions April 26, 2023, at the PAR gubernatorial candidates forum held at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.

Landry, Louisiana GOP spend $22,000 at Mar-a-Lago in recent months

BY: - July 20, 2023

Attorney General Jeff Landry and the state Republican Party have spent almost $22,000 at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida over the past four months, as Landry seeks to win the Louisiana governor’s race.  Landry’s gubernatorial campaign reported paying Mar-a-Lago $4,729.44 on July 5 for a fundraiser banquet. The Republican Party of Louisiana […]

A map of Louisiana is overlaid over a handshake. The silhouettes of several people can be seen in the background.

Louisiana governor hopefuls want to make the state more business – and worker – friendly 

BY: - July 14, 2023

After Louisiana was ranked as the second-to-worst state for business, candidates vying to be its next governor agree something must be done – but don’t always concur on just what the answer is.  Five of the top contenders for governor spoke with the Illuminator about their plans to lift Louisiana from the bottom of such […]

Sen. Sharon Hewitt sitting in committee room

Louisiana governor’s race: Hewitt slams Wilson over Slidell bridge construction

BY: - July 12, 2023

With the governor’s race gaining steam in Louisiana, underdog Republican candidate state Sen. Sharon Hewitt took a jab at Democratic frontrunner Shawn Wilson in an open letter Tuesday, complaining about bridge construction in her home St. Tammany Parish.  In the letter from her campaign email account, Hewitt criticized the timing of a state infrastructure project […]

Louisiana Democratic Party chair under fire for endorsement moves

BY: - June 29, 2023

A string of decisions by the Louisiana Democratic Party chair has generated infighting among party members and a recent lawsuit surrounding its candidate endorsements. Two members of the Democratic State Central Committee, Katherine Hurst and Aimee Robinson, filed suit June 22 against party chair Katie Bernhardt in an attempt to stop her from suspending the […]