Louisiana held its “jungle” primary yesterday – an election where all candidates from all parties run on the same ballot. If a candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, he or she is declared the winner, and a general election is not needed. And that is just what Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) accomplished in the gubernatorial race, while simultaneously securing a flip for Republicans.
Ahead of the primary, polls reflected three of the 16 gubernatorial candidates on the ballot were realistically in the running to replace term-limited Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards: Attorney General Landry, former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Shawn Wilson (D), and Stephen Waguespack (R). In the end, Landry received approximately 51.6% of the vote.
Jeff Landry is finishing his second term as attorney general after previously serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012. Landry served in the National Guard for eleven years. As attorney general, Landry addressed the opioid crisis, prosecuted welfare fraud, and restructured the state DOJ, including creation of the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. Landry’s campaign has focused on pro-life policies; law enforcement support and immigration enforcement; parents’ rights; tax and regulatory reductions; energy independence; broadband expansion; addressing predatory insurance companies; and revising the state constitution to reduce funding dedications. Landry was endorsed by former President Donald Trump (R), Congressman Steve Scalise (R), the NRA, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, and the Louisiana Republican Party.
Attorney General
Five candidates were arrayed in the primary for attorney general: State Solicitor General Liz Murrill (R), Marty Maley (R), Lindsey Cheek (D), State Representative John Stefanski (R), and Perry Walker Terrebonne (D). Murrill and Cheek have advanced to the November general election, winning 45% and 23% of the vote, respectively.
Murrill has served as solicitor general since her 2017 appointment by Attorney General Jeff Landry (R). She cites her experience in the Department of Justice as an edge over her opponents. In her position as solicitor general, Murrill has become known as a major player in multistate litigation against federal regulatory power, and has appeared five times before the U.S. Supreme Court. She opposed actions from the Biden Administration that would ban oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters. Murrill has stated that as attorney general, she would oppose the EPA’s latest effort to regulate power plant greenhouse emissions, a key part of President Biden’s climate agenda. Murrill has been endorsed by the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and the Louisiana GOP.
Lindsey Cheek has worked as an attorney with the Cheek Law Firm and the Lanier Law Firm, PLLC. She has also worked as a clerk with the Harris County District Attorney and as a business consultant. If elected, Cheek pledges to invest in recidivism programs, address rising insurance costs, promote education, and confront corruption in the state government. Cheek was endorsed by the Louisiana Democratic Party, the Independent Women’s Organization, the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA), and others ahead of the primary.
Treasurer
Three candidates were on the ballot to replace State Treasurer and governor candidate John Schroder (R) in an under the radar race for a position that is largely administrative but with pathways to higher office. Former congressman and White House deputy chief of staff John Fleming (R) and financial planner Dustin Granger (D) have advanced to the November election after receiving 44% and 32% of votes, respectively.
John Fleming previously served in Congress from 2009-2017, representing the fourth district of Louisiana. Fleming received endorsement from the Republican Party of Louisiana earlier in the year over Republican opponent State Representative Scott McKnight. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations in state investments have been at the center of debate in the treasurer race this cycle. Fleming says that the treasurers primary concern should be to invest “wisely and with maximum efforts” but has noted that aid he feels ESG investments are generally poor performers.
Dustin Granger has been a financial advisor and investment manager for nearly 20 years. Granger says he intends to shift Louisiana’s public investments away from the oil and gas industry and create a more diverse financial portfolio if elected. Other plans include the establishment of a state reinsurance marketplace, protecting Medicaid expansion, and structural reforms.
As the only major Democrat running, Granger was projected to make the runoff due to votes being split between Fleming and McKnight on the Republican side of the aisle. However, come November, Republicans are expected to pool their votes to put Fleming in the office as they did for Schroder in 2017.