We did it!
I am both proud of and humbled by the outpouring of support that our campaign for Governor received, leading to an historic and unprecedented win on Saturday night. As I said from the very beginning, this race was never about me — it has always been about us. And by standing together for our common cause, we successfully won a jungle primary against 14 opponents — proving that our State is united in a vision for the future. But now, the real work begins.
Since we launched our campaign over a year ago, we hit the road listening to you about the core issues that must be addressed if we’re to restore our State and improve our circumstances. The biggest issue is crime, of course, with Louisiana leading in all of the worst rankings.
Through our decisive victory, the people of our State have said that they are tired of being known for violence, rape, and murder. We’re tired of leading the country in property crime, carjackings, and domestic violence. And we’re exhausted by the surge of opioids, fentanyl, and overdose deaths that are destroying our families. We must fix these issues immediately to restore safety in our communities. That is why I consider our election a mandate for change — and change is what we will have.
The other hot topics being discussed around the kitchen tables across our State are taxation, insurance rates, our education system, and the economy. It is high time that Louisiana has a government as good as its people — one that serves our parishes, protects our sovereignty, and ensures that a high quality of life is not only affordable but also accessible. We must also be able to compete with the other Southern states that are booming right now; but to achieve a brighter future, we must make different decisions than leaders in the past have made, and that we will.
To restore Louisiana, we must ensure that our children are able to read and do basic math, that opportunities will exist for them to make a living and raise a family, and that they will be backed by a government that solves problems rather than creates new ones. We must also support our law enforcement and other first responders as we tackle crime and restore the rule of law. That means we must refuse the temptations of armchair politics and theoretical solutions and pursue the answers that will actually work.
By embracing reality over feel good theories, we will begin to build our State back up in a way that works for all of our people and not just a few. And as a result, our small and larger businesses will begin to prosper again, our economy will gain traction, and others will choose Louisiana as an investment in their future — which will benefit us all. Yes, these are lofty goals; but they are attainable ones, if we work together. Remember: no one thought that the people of our State would end this race with the first vote — but we proved them wrong.
And I know that if we continue as one team, we will accomplish great things. We can create a better, safer, and more prosperous Louisiana — not just for ourselves but also for our future generations to come. And so I thank you all again. Our historic victory is due to all of you who supported our efforts in time, talent, and treasure. And we will continue to win thanks to those who remain committed to the revival of Louisiana values, courage, and ingenuity.
Sharon, I and our team look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work fixing our great State — because this is our moment.
Jeff Landry
Louisiana Governor-Elect
