Though the off-year elections were generally disappointing for the GOP, particularly the Kentucky gubernatorial race and legislative elections in the Old Dominion, Republicans in Louisiana just scored a series of major state-level victories that ushered them into office in every statewide elected office.
Particularly, the GOP just won control of the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer after sweeping the state’s three runoff races on Saturday night, solidifying its state control and building on election night victories.
The GOP’s victories also mean that the state will have its first-ever female attorney general and first-ever female elected secretary of state, as the AG race was won by Liz Murrill and Nancy Landry won the secretary of state runoff. John Fleming won the treasurer runoff race.
The string of successes is particularly stunning given that Democrats once dominated Louisiana and the state has had a Democrat in the governor’s office for nearly a decade, so the GOP now dominating both all of the state’s elected offices and holding a supermajority in the state House and Senate is a major change for the state.
The matter of replacing the Democrat governor with a Republican was settled without the race needing to head to a runoff, as in October Trump-backed Jeff Landry defeated the Democrat candidate outright. The incumbent governor, John Bel Edwards, could not run thanks to term limits.
Landry’s victory was just one of many October successes for the Louisiana GOP. Also winning outright and avoiding runoffs were Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, both of whom were reelected, and Tim Temple was elected insurance commissioner.
Attorney General-elect Murrill, speaking on Saturday night after her victory was announced, said, “When I entered this race. I promised to protect families, our future and our freedom because these things are important to me … I know they are important to everyone in our state.”
Continuing, she pledged to fight for the people of the state and properly represent them, telling the gathered crowd, “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.”
Former President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post on the Saturday night victory for the Louisiana Republicans, said, “Big win in Louisiana, including Jeff Landry, who after receiving my endorsement, went up like a rocket ship and won the election without even a runoff. All 4 are great people. I was glad to be of service!”
That post came around the same time as a Truth Social attack on a governor who supported DeSantis instead of Trump. In that attack, Trump said, “Kim Reynolds of Iowa has gone from a popular Governor to the MOST UNPOPULAR GOVERNOR IN THE UNITED STATES, not an easy feat. Her Endorsement of Ron DeSanctimonious, who is 50 Points down to me in the Polls, has given him exactly ZERO “Bounce.” He is a wounded bird falling violently from the sky. I wonder what position Kim was promised in order to back someone who is sooo far down? I got Iowa “First in the Nation,” Ethanol security, and 28 Billion Dollars for our Great Farmers. I also protected Social Security and MediCare. DeSanctimonious and Birdbrain did NOTHING. MAGA!!!”
Featured image credit: By House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4N9moLYAP4&t=1h21m1s, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138939543
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