By Piper Hutchinson | Reporter
The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee is meeting at 9 a.m. today to hear public testimony on redistricting. The committee is expected to advance a new congressional districts map next week to be used in this year’s elections. You can watch the hearing here.
Meanwhile in the U.S. Senate election, we profile the three leading Republicans in the contest.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is in a tough reelection campaign against two Republican candidates, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, of Baton Rouge, and state Treasurer John Fleming of Minden. The Republican primary election is May 16. (Screenshot from U.S. Senate committee livestream)
By Julie O’Donoghue
Staring down a MAGA-dominated primary, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy Cassidy tried to repair his relationship with Trump, at least publicly, after the president took office again last year. The senator, a medical doctor and vaccine proponent, cast the deciding vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to become Trump’s health secretary.
But that show of support for Trump didn’t stop the president from endorsing one of Cassidy’s opponents, Letlow, in the Senate race.
U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow speaks to the media after qualifying to run for U.S. Senate (Piper Hutchinson/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Piper Hutchinson
During her campaign for U.S. Senate, it’s been Letlow’s time at the University of Louisiana at Monroe that’s been placed under more scrutiny than her record on Capitol Hill. Letlow’s opponents, particularly incumbent U.S. Sen Bill Cassidy, have used DEI to attack her, noting she once endorsed the practices as a college administrator and described herself as a “progressive leader” when she unsuccessfully applied to become UL-Monroe president.
State Treasurer John Fleming has made his opposition to carbon storage development in Louisiana a major part of his campaign for U.S. Senate. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Elise Plunk
In this year’s race for a seat in the U.S. Senate, one candidate looks to set himself apart among the Republican primary candidates by railing against carbon capture and sequestration.
John Fleming, the sitting state treasurer from Minden, has rallied to bring down carbon storage initiatives across the state, hoping to align himself with opponents of the technology from rural communities where such projects are planned and proposed.
By Piper Hutchinson
Historically, federal courts have operated under a principle that prevented them from intervening in elections too close to when voters head to the polls so as to not confuse them. In 2022 and 2024, this standard stopped Louisiana from redistricting months ahead of its elections.
This time is different.
More from the LAI team
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