The Democratic Party were “demolished” in Louisiana elections this Saturday.
After winning three runoff elections for attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer on Saturday night, Republicans will control every elected statewide office in Louisiana come January.
Republicans won all of Louisiana’s statewide positions for the first time since 2015, despite the fact that the state has had a Democrat in the governor’s office for the previous eight years. Furthermore, the GOP has a two-thirds supermajority in both the House and Senate.
Attorney General Liz Murrill, Secretary of State Nancy Landry, and Treasurer John Fleming were all elected. The results also indicate that Louisiana will have its first female attorney general and secretary of state.
Saturday’s election completed the molding of Louisiana’s executive branch, as most incumbents did not seek reelection, allowing new leadership to take over in some of the most influential posts.
In October, Jeff Landry, a Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the state’s governor race without a runoff. Due to term restrictions, current Gov. John Bel Edwards, the only Democratic governor in the Deep South, was unable to compete for reelection.
Last month, Republicans re-elected Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, while Tim Temple was chosen insurance commissioner.
Despite low voter turnout, Trump was impressed with Saturday’s election, endorsing Republican candidates in all three statewide elections.
The three Republicans “are outstanding in every way and have my complete and total endorsement,” Trump declared, according to a statement released by the Louisiana Republican Party.
Murrill, a Republican, will succeed her employer, Jeff Landry, as governor in January. Lindsey Cheek, a New Orleans-based trial lawyer, ran against Murrill in the attorney general campaign.
In a range of legal situations, the attorney general represents the state. However, Landry frequently generated statewide and national news in the post, including his support for laws prohibiting transgender children from receiving gender-affirming medical care and a near-total abortion prohibition with no exceptions for situations of rape and incest.
Murrill has backed conservative causes alongside Landry, including a lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s administration over the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for government contractors.
Murrill campaigned on a platform of fighting federal overreach, preserving the state’s abortion restriction, and promoting tough-on-crime rhetoric.
“When I signed up for this race. “I promised to protect our families, our future, and our freedom because these things are important to me… and I know they are important to everyone in our state,” Murrill said in her victory address Saturday night. “I’m so humbled and I’m honored that the people of our state have chosen me to represent you and to fight for you.”
Trump acquires a close supporter in the state treasurer’s office: Fleming, a conservative former congressman who co-founded the House Freedom Caucus in the United States. Following his service in Congress, the Republican joined the previous president’s administration. Fleming faced Democrat Dustin Granger, a Lake Charles financial advisor, in the runoff on Saturday.
Nancy Landry, who is not related to the governor-elect, defeated Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup in the election for Secretary of State. Landry is a former Lafayette state lawmaker who has served in the Secretary of State’s office for four years.
The Republican will be in charge of updating Louisiana’s obsolete voting machines, which do not generate the paper ballots required for reliable election results.
Scott Presler, an election activist who has raised national attention on the race, weighed in on Saturday’s results.
Democrats just got demolished in Louisiana. This was a trouncing.
Republicans won all 3 statewide races by a 2-1 margin.
Louisiana elected its 1st female AG & 1st woman elected as SOS.
Republicans control every statewide office & supermajorities in the House/Senate.
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) November 19, 2023
“Democrats just got demolished in Louisiana,” he remarked. “This was a trouncing. Republicans won all 3 statewide races by a 2-1 margin. Louisiana elected its 1st female AG & 1st woman elected as SOS. Republicans control every statewide office & supermajorities in the House/Senate.”
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