Election 2023

Richard Nelson

Legal cannabis? Film tax credits? Louisiana governor candidates pitch how to boost tourism

BY: - September 1, 2023

Reducing crime, retaining tax credits for film productions and legalizing marijuana are ways Louisiana’s governor candidates said the state could boost its tourism industry. Six of the seven major gubernatorial candidates spoke Thursday to the Louisiana Travel Association at the group’s conference in Baton Rouge. Attorney General Jeff Landry, the presumed frontrunner in the governor’s […]

COMMENTARY
A young adult with a questioning expression is surrounded by text reading Liberal? Conservative? Moderate? with an outline of the state of Louisiana in the background

Questions abound as the Louisiana governor’s race heads into the homestretch

BY: - September 1, 2023

Labor Day is traditionally the point where statewide election campaigns move into high gear with roughly six weeks to convince voters before they make their decision. For the 2023 Louisiana governor’s race, voters might also need a road map to follow the candidates who’ve either been nebulous about their platforms or aren’t making a big […]

Jeff Landry standing at podium speaking to reporters

Jeff Landry refuses to participate in first debate of the Louisiana governor’s race

BY: - August 31, 2023

Attorney General Jeff Landry, who has refused to attend several election events with other candidates this summer, formally announced Thursday he won’t participate in the first debate of the governor’s 2023 campaign next week. Landry, the presumptive frontrunner for Louisiana’s top office, said he is concerned that one of the sponsors of the debate won’t […]

Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks to reporters before qualifying Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, for the governor’s race Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at the Louisiana State Archives building in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Republicans emphasize national talking points ahead of statewide election

BY: - August 26, 2023

LAFAYETTE — Ahead of a pivotal statewide election in which the Republican Party of Louisiana hopes to recapture the governor’s mansion, headline speakers at the organization’s annual convention emphasized national talking points over Louisiana-oriented policy.  Speaker after speaker decried “wokeness,” the media and the far-left Democratic Party. Others defended former President Donald Trump, who had […]

COMMENTARY
Louisiana House of Representatives

10 Louisiana Legislature races to watch in this fall’s election

BY: - August 21, 2023

With almost half of the members of the state Senate and House of Representatives going unopposed, there might not appear to be much drama in store in the fall elections for seats in the Louisiana Legislature. But dig deeper and you’ll find a fight for the fundamental heart of the Republican-dominated chambers, along with a […]

COMMENTARY

Why you shouldn’t sleep on the Louisiana secretary of state’s race this fall

BY: - August 17, 2023

Secretary of state hasn’t been one of the more fruitful statewide elected seats in Louisiana government when it comes to its holder advancing to higher profile jobs. Other than Paul Hardy and Jay Dardenne going on to become lieutenant governor, the post hasn’t been much of a launchpad in recent decades. But it would be […]

Louisiana treasurer race 2023

Louisiana treasurer candidates talk experience, social issues in investing

BY: - August 16, 2023

Candidates running to be Louisiana’s next top money manager discussed the role of the treasurer, social issues and investing, state debt and much more in an online forum Wednesday. The webinar was hosted by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group. All three candidates in the Oct. 14 election took […]

A sign directs people to the Louisiana State Archives building for election qualifying Aug. 9, 2023, in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana insurance commissioner race decided after candidate withdraws

BY: and - August 16, 2023

One of two candidates for Louisiana insurance commissioner has dropped out of the race, giving the lone remaining candidate an automatic victory. WDSU-TV first reported Rich Weaver, a Democrat from Ascension Parish, would drop out of the race, citing a potential challenge to his candidacy. That leaves Tim Temple, a Baton Rouge Republican, as the commissioner-elect.  […]

Court filing accuses Louisiana House candidate of lying about residency status

BY: - August 14, 2023

A Republican candidate who qualified to run for a state legislative seat in central Louisiana has some questions to answer about his residency, according to a challenge filed in an Evangeline Parish court Monday.  Todd McKellar, who registered last week to run for Louisiana House District 38, claimed a homestead tax exemption on a property […]

An aerial view of the Mississippi State Capitol at dusk.

Republican voters deliver fatal blow to Mississippi’s far-right conservative movement

BY: and - August 13, 2023

BILOXI, Mississippi — A candidate’s concession speech usually reveals a lot about how a person will handle an election loss. They can use their words to graciously accept the will of voters or work to assure their supporters that despite the loss, there are better days ahead. But when the Associated Press at 11:30 p.m. […]

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, right, directs Attorney General Jeff Landry through the State Archives building prior to Landry qualifying for the Louisiana governor’s race Aug. 9, 2023

After avoiding opponents, Jeff Landry will take part in at least one gubernatorial debate

BY: - August 11, 2023

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry will participate in at least one debate during the governor’s race this fall, according to his campaign staff. He has avoided joint appearances with the other gubernatorial candidates up until this point.  Brent Littlefield, Landry’s longtime political consultant, said the attorney general always intended to take part in a debate […]

Gubernatorial candidate Stephen Waguespack answers a question Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana forum held at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.

Waguespack and Nelson officially join field for Louisiana governor 

BY: - August 10, 2023

With the entrance of the last two expected candidates for governor Thursday, Louisiana’s Oct. 14 primary election shapes up to be a showdown with frontrunner Jeff Landry, a field of Republican challengers who hope to jump him in the polls and Democrat Shawn Wilson. Trailing closest behind Landry is Stephen Waguespack, a well-funded Republican who […]