The unsettling trend of unopposed candidates has taken a firm grip, with 71 total candidates for various offices running without any opposition. Yes– 71 candidates have secured office without any opposition. This disconcerting outcome includes 45 State Representative seats and 18 Senatorial seats, all occupied without facing a single challenge. With almost two months left before the election, the race for a range of positions including Legislature seats, appeals court judgeships, and statewide offices are already decided. These candidates handed their positions on a “silver platter,” as data from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office reveals.
Among the unopposed victors, 44 belong to the Republican Party, while the remaining 27 align with the Democratic Party. A notable observation is that most of the unopposed candidates are white male Republicans. Despite Jefferson Parish’s booming hispanic population, there was ZERO Hispanic representation. This stark demographic composition raises a crucial question: does this phenomenon indicate a thriving state? Let’s delve deeper to assess the situation.
Louisiana’s education system ranks 46th in the nation, placing the state at the bottom of the academic ladder. The overall ranking of the state paints an equally bleak picture, as it secures the last position in national rankings.
In addition to grappling with educational challenges, Louisiana holds the unenviable title of being the second-poorest state in the entire country, grappling with a poverty rate of approximately 17.80%.
Adding to the gloom, Louisiana holds the undesirable distinction of being the second-most corrupt state in the nation, trailing only behind Mississippi. The state’s ranking in other key areas, as indicated by a comprehensive U.S. News report, further underscores the magnitude of the crisis. Louisiana ranks at the bottom, placing 50th in categories like crime/corrections, economy, and healthcare. Additionally, it secures 49th position for both infrastructure and the natural environment.
In response to what it perceives as discriminatory legislation passed by state lawmakers, a civil rights organization is advocating for a national travel advisory for the state. Disturbingly, according to CDC data, Louisiana ranks second in the nation for reported STD cases, trailing only behind Mississippi.
The lingering question persists: amidst the evident disparities, and the phenomenon of unopposed candidates, can Louisiana undergo a transformation? It is abundantly clear that change is not only necessary but imperative and that rights must be asserted, not simply handed over.
Below is the list of your elected officials:
1.Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry
Michael G. “Mike” Strain
Unopposed White Republican Male
- Commissioner of Insurance
“Tim” Temple
Unopposed White Republican Male - Judge, Court of Appeal 5th Circuit, 1st Dist., Elec. Sec. 1, Division F
Scott Schlegel
Unopposed White Republican Male - Judge, Court of Appeal 5th Circuit, 3rd Dist., Division A
Timothy Marcel
Unopposed White Male Democrat - BESE District 3
“Sandy” LeBlanc Holloway
Unopposed White Republican Female - State Senator 3rd Senatorial District
Joseph “Joe” Bouie
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Senator 4th Senatorial District
“Jimmy” Harris
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Senator 5th Senatorial District
Royce Duplessis
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Senator 7th Senatorial District
Gary Carter Jr.
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Senator 11th Senatorial District
Patrick McMath
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 14th Senatorial District
Cleo Fields
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Senator 15th Senatorial District
Regina Barrow
Unopposed Black Female Democrat - State Senator 16th Senatorial District
Franklin Foil
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 18th Senatorial District
Eddie J. Lambert
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 23rd Senatorial District
Jean-Paul Coussan
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 24th Senatorial District
Gerald Boudreaux
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Senator 26th Senatorial District
“Bob” Hensgens
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 27th Senatorial District
1 to be elected
Jeremy Stine
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 28th Senatorial District
Heather Cloud
Unopposed Whie Republican Female - State Senator 29th Senatorial District
Wendell Jay Luneau
Unopposed White Male Democrat - State Senator 30th Senatorial District
“Mike” Reese
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 32nd Senatorial District
Glen D. Womack
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Senator 35th Senatorial District
“Jay” Morris
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 3rd Representative District
Tammy Phelps
Unopposed Black Female Democrat - State Representative 5th Representative District
Dennis Bamburg Jr.
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 8th Representative District
Raymond J. Crews
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 10th Representative District
Wayne McMahen
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 12th Representative District
Christopher “Chris” Turner
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 13th Representative District
Jack G. McFarland
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 14th Representative District
Michael Echols
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 16th Representative District
Adrian Fisher
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Representative 17th Representative District
Patricia “Pat” Moore
Unopposed Black female Democrat - State Representative 22nd Representative District
“Gabe” Firment
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 27th Representative District
“Mike” Johnson
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 29th Representative District
Edmond Jordan
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Representative 32nd Representative District
Dewith Carrier
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 33rd Representative District
“Les” Farnum
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 35th Representative District
Brett Geymann
White Republican Male- Unopposed - State Representative 36th Representative District
Phillip E. Tarver
White Republican Male- Unopposed - State Representative 37th Representative District
Troy D. Romero
White Republican Male- Unopposed - State Representative 41st Representative District
Phillip R. DeVillier
White Republican Male- Unopposed - State Representative 46th Representative District
Chad M. Boyer
White Republican Male- Unopposed - State Representative 47th Representative District
Ryan Bourriaque
White Republican Male- Unopposed - State Representative 51st Representative District
Beryl Amedee
White Republican Female- Unopposed - State Representative 52nd Representative District
Jerome “Zee” Zeringue
White Republican Male- Unopposed - State Representative 54th Representative District
Joseph Orgeron
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 55th Representative District
Bryan Fontenot
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 56th Representative District
Beth Billings
White Republican Female-Unopposed - State Representative 58th Representative District
Kendricks “Ken” Brass
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Representative 59th Representative District
“Tony” Bacala
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 60th Representative District
Chad Brown
Unopposed White Male Democrat - State Representative 61st Representative District
C. Denise Marcelle
Unopposed Black Female Democrat - State Representative 67th Representative District
Larry Selders
Unopposed Black Male Democrat - State Representative 69th Representative District
Paula Davis
Unopposed White Republican Female - State Representative
Mark Wright
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 78th Representative District
John “Big John” Illg Jr.
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 79th Representative District
“Debbie” Villio
Unopposed White Republican Female - State Representative 80th Representative District
“Polly” Thomas
Unopposed White Republican Female - State Representative 82nd Representative District
Laurie Schlegel
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 84th Representative District
Timothy Kerner
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 86th Representative District
Nicholas “Nicky” Muscarello Jr.
Unopposed White Republican Male - State Representative 93rd Representative District
Alonzo Knox
Unopposed Black Democrat Male - State Representative 96th Representative District
Marcus Bryant
Unopposed Black Democrat Male - State Representative 97th Representative District
Matthew Willard
Unopposed Black Democrat Male - State Representative 98th Representative District
Aimee Adatto Freeman
Unopposed White Democrat Female - State Representative 100th Representative District
Jason Hughes
Unopposed Black Democrat Male - State Representative 101st Representative District
Vanessa Caston LaFleur
Unopposed Black Democrat Female - State Representative 102nd Representative District
Delisha Boyd
Unopposed Black Democrat Female - District Judge 29th Judicial District Court, Division D
Rochelle Champagne Fahrig
Unopposed White Republican Female - Judge Civil District Court, Division D
Monique Barial
Unopposed Black Democrat Female - Judge Civil District Court, Division G
Veronica E. Henry
Unopposed Black Democrat Female
