The Louisiana Legislature convened for a Special Legislative Session last week. LA Governor Jeff Landry called the Legislature to tackle three primary issues in this week-long session:
1. Redistricting for the US Congressional Redistricting
2. Replacing Louisiana’s Jungle Primary with Closed Primaries
3. Redistricting for the Louisiana Supreme Court
The Special Session covered all three of these topics, but “Louisiana First” patriots came out on the losing end of these issues. What started out as an optimistic year for Louisiana has come to a screeching halt after this session.
If you weren’t aware, I was sounding the alarm about the concerning start to the Legislative session on The Hayride before the Legislature’s Committee Chair assignments were even public.
Before last week’s Special session, I first started sounding the alarm about Louisiana Legislative leadership two weeks ago. LA Senate President Cameron Henry and LA House Speaker Phillip DeVillier (both Republicans) gave several Committee Chairs to Democrats—despite the GOP holding Supermajorities in both chambers.
Congressional Redistricting
At the beginning of last week’s special session, Louisiana State Senator Glen Womack (R) proposed a new Congressional map for Louisiana (SB 17). Again, I sounded the alarm on The Hayride about this atrocious map.
Womack’s map created a 2nd Gerrymandered, Black-majority district—District 6. Louisiana citizens of northwest Louisiana in Caddo and De Soto Parishes will now have the same Congressman as West & East Baton Rouge.
Here is the Congressional Map under Womack’s bill:
Governor Landry signed Womack’s Bill (SB 8) into law, so this Bill is the new Congressional map in Louisiana.
Far-Left, Obama-appointed US Judge Shelly Dick ordered the Louisiana Legislature to create a 2nd Black-majority District back in 2022, and she threatened to make new Congressional map if the Legislature didn’t pass a new map by early 2024.
From a “Louisiana First” perspective, it is disappointing to see Louisiana Republican officials caving to a partisan judge like Shelly Dick. Nevertheless, Redistricting wasn’t even the most disappointing part of Special session.
The real disappointing part of this session came from Rep. Julie Emerson’s closed primary bill (HB 17).
What happened to Closed Primaries?
“Louisiana First” patriots have called for Closed Primaries for many years. Louisiana’s Jungle Primary system is an antiquated relic of Louisiana’s past as a 1-party, Democrat-run state, and it’s time for it go. Indeed, Closed primaries have been long overdue and are a key ingredient in dissolving the Louisiana political Establishment’s power over state politics.
Earlier this month, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Legislative leadership promised to pass Closed primaries in the Special Session.
To start the special session, Rep. Julie Emerson (R) proposed a Closed primary bill (HB 17). Her original bill would have converted the old “Jungle primary” system to a Closed primary system for ALL Louisiana elections—including Statewide offices, State Legislative races, and US Congressional elections.
Unfortunately, Louisiana’s RINO-Democrat alliance watered-down Rep. Emerson’ bill. After adding several amendments from the LA Senate, Louisiana will NOT have Closed primaries going forward.
Don’t believe me? Then read the Final version of the bill (HB 17):
The Final version of HB 17 allows independent voters to vote in party primaries—which means we have only a “semi-closed” primary. Additionally, this water-down primary bill only applies to US Congressional offices, the Louisiana Supreme Court, BESE, and the Public Service Commission (PSC).
No Statewide office, no State Legislative races, no local races. Louisiana citizens were promised Closed primaries, and we did not receive Closed Primaries.
One person party responsible for the failure of the Closed Primary bill was US Senator John “Ukraine First” Kennedy. Senator Kennedy publicly voiced his support for open primaries by posting the following tweet during the Special session.
No More Excuses
After Emerson’s watered-down bill got passed, the official Louisiana First Standard Twitter (X) account called out Rep Emerson for not getting us Closed primaries. Here was the ensuing exchange:
Overall, Louisiana First patriots gave Republicans a super-majority in both Legislative chambers and every single statewide elected office. Yet, all we get is more of the same: failed promises and excuses.
The Louisiana Legislature’s special session was a disappointing start to the new year, and I am fairly skeptical about our so-called “Conservative leadership” in Louisiana.
That being said, our Republican politicians in Louisiana have an opportunity to redeem themselves. The Regular Legislative Session starts in March, so let’s hope that our Republican elected officials achieve Conservative, “Louisiana First” victories going forward.