LANDRY: Our State Police Crime Lab

When we talk about crime in Louisiana, it is easy to forget the silent workforce that bridges the gap between a crime scene and the court room – often enabling justice to be served through the collection, analysis, and interpretation of evidence. Yet during my recent visit to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, I was reminded of the hard and emotionally challenging work that these professionals perform on a daily basis despite a lack of funding, an enormous backlog of cases, and a broken criminal justice system. 

Public servants at the Crime Lab understand the opioid crisis ravaging Louisiana from a completely different perspective than most. Analysts there have witnessed a significant shift in the types of drugs and quantities that end up in the Lab since the Governor’s Criminal Justice Reform, which labeled drug dealing a nonviolent offense and lowered the mandatory sentencing associated with it. 

In 2020, only 7% of blood samples brought to this Crime Lab had traces of fentanyl. By 2022, it was found in 23% of them. Today, it is estimated that 1 in 5 people arrested for a DWI have fentanyl in their system; yet our children are often deceived by counterfeits containing this deadly drug, and without a tolerance built up, many overdose from a single pill. Similarly, relapse for addicts is now a death sentence rather than part of recovery. 

Even THC diverted from Colorado can be found in the Lab, with a single edible capable of holding 600mg. Sadly, children often confuse these for normal snacks, resulting in a spike of accidental exposures to massive quantities of THC. But drugs are only the tip of the iceberg for this Crime Lab, which is on the front line of our crime epidemic, containing evidence from roughly 3,400 cases related to violent crime and sexual assault. 

While there are seven crime labs operating across the State, all doing equally important work, this Lab tests roughly 6,000 pieces of evidence each year and has not been able to keep up with demand – especially since New Orleans has yet to re-establish its own crime lab post-Katrina. Roughly 30% of the total volume in Baton Rouge is related to cases from the Big Easy, which has experienced an enormous spike in violent crime and sexual assaults since COVID. As a result, the Crime Lab is constantly expanding and overflowing with evidence.  

Working in teams, analysts can process 15 to 20 cases at a time, with each case typically having 20-35 samples. An analyst can also expect to individually work two to five cases. Yet, due to backlog, a DNA case can take three to four months (as opposed to 30 days) to complete. Unfortunately, some cases could be waiting for years; and everyone knows this is unsustainable if we are to truly address Louisiana’s crime problem. 

That is why this Crime Lab is actively seeking to make their work faster and more efficient without compromising accuracy. One technological advancement playing a role in this is Rapid DNA. Currently, the only FBI/NDIS authorized Rapid DNA program is in two booking stations with two more coming online soon. Between the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Office and the Livingston Parish Sheriff Office, over 600 arrestees have been enrolled in this program with a Rapid DNA profile created within 90 minutes. The next advancement would be Crime Scene Rapid, which the FBI is hoping to authorize by January 2025. 

As for sexual assault, ACT 193 – introduced by Senator Beth Mizell and supported by both the Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Sexual Assault Oversight Commission – will enable victims to track their kits, along with all law enforcement, hospitals, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, DAs, crime labs, and coroners. Through these efforts, we hope to provide greater transparency to victims and further accountability across the board. 

In the meantime, scientists based in the Crime Lab are constantly continuing their education on new technology, with trainings ranging from one month to over a year. In fact, it takes about two years of training before a recent grad is able to work a case by themselves and new technology can cost half a million dollars. The Lab itself is also moving to paperless operations for even greater efficiency. But by investing in the latest technology and the education of our workforce, we can make a difference in our State — and that is exactly what must happen moving forward. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Jeff Landry Qualifies to Run for Governor of Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Jeff Landry qualified to run for Governor of Louisiana. Jeff Landry is the official endorsed candidate by the Louisiana Republican Party. He also has the support of President Donald Trump, Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman Mike Johnson, Congressman Clay Higgins, former Congressman Ralph Abraham, businessman Eddie Rispone, businessman Boysie Bollinger,  as well as numerous Republican Parish Executive Committees, sheriffs, and District Attorneys across Louisiana.  

“For far too long, Louisiana has been at the bottom of every good list and the top of every bad list. This election is our opportunity to change our State and put Louisiana on a path to success. As a former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, no one is better suited to address our State’s crime problem. As a business owner and former economic development director, I know what our local businesses need to succeed. As the son of a school teacher, I understand that the most important voice in a child’s education is the parents. Louisianans know what is at stake in this election, and that is why we are running to be Louisiana’s next Governor. Because together, we can make Louisiana a state as good as her people,” said Jeff Landry. 

LANDRY: Our Fight Against Domestic Violence

When cadets attend a law enforcement academy, they can expect to learn about physical fitness, firearms safety, marksmanship, writing reports, and the legal aspects of their future job. They also learn how to interrogate a suspect, as well as how to look for inconsistent or overly rehearsed stories. Yet, in cases of domestic violence, these particular skillsets do not offer a complete appreciation of the signs and evidence needed to protect crime victims or law enforcement officers.   

Louisiana is ranked 5th in the Nation for domestic violence homicides, and the longer a victim waits to contact law enforcement, the more dangerous the situation becomes. Perpetrators are usually volatile and violent by the time police arrive on the scene; yet officers are often overworked, backup is typically not available, and if things go south, it will take time for additional manpower to arrive — time they might not have. Unfortunately, for these reasons, the most dangerous calls for law enforcement often relate to domestic violence. 

To minimize such risks, the slow burn of domestic violence must be better understood, as well as the culture insulating it. Victims of abuse are often shamed into silence, with the belief that they should have been stronger, tougher, braver, or bold. As a result, few disclose what happens at home until the situation has escalated to a dangerous level, or family and friends learn of it far too late.  

Domestic violence is never something experienced on a first date. Instead, the escalation of abuse is slow, like water carving into rock. It’s also confusing. In many cases, a victim will genuinely love their abuser, not for the violence — but because of the inevitable good times they share as well. There’s also long-term manipulation to consider, trauma bonding that may have occurred as early as childhood, and previous experiences that make controlling behavior, chaos, and daily interrogations feel like love. These consistent experiences ultimately change a victim’s brain chemistry, making them more likely to accept a dangerous situation and even stay in it far longer than they should. It’s also what makes it that much more difficult to leave.  

Imagine if a police officer entered your home on a domestic violence call and declared, “You have to leave him right now — tonight. You have twenty minutes to gather your things.” You have to pack your belongings, as well as the necessities for any children or pets. Then, where do you go? There are shelters available, but what if the nearest shelter is full or a long drive from home? What’s the plan? Many victims don’t have one, even though the most dangerous time in that relationship is when they try to leave.  

Tragically, the dangers of staying can be even worse, as witnessed during the COVID pandemic. Once the lockdowns began, there was a sharp decrease in calls made to 911 for domestic violence. Victims were completely isolated, and no one saw the bruises because no one was going to work, church, or even family gatherings. And by the time victims did call 911, the situation was considered severe.  

Post-COVID, there has been a distinct rise in calls, along with an increase in strangulation cases and domestic violence homicides. For greater context, when a person is strangled in a domestic violence situation, they are 750x more likely to be murdered by their perpetrator with a firearm. Moreover, that same perpetrator is more likely to murder a law enforcement officer when they arrive on the scene.  

That is why the Louisiana Department of Justice has fought to prepare law enforcement for these tumultuous calls — not only to protect the citizens of Louisiana but to also protect themselves. We’re teaching officers how to better serve the victims of domestic violence by changing their hardwired interrogation tactics, so that a victim’s story of abuse can be told in a way that makes sense to them, highlighting sensory experiences and flashes of memory that might not be linear or follow a traditional script. Finally, we encourage victims to contact their local domestic violence center and create a safety plan, whether they are ready to leave or not.  

As Attorney General, we have learned that it is the time we spend now, in preparation, that saves lives, which is why our team has hosted several dozen trainings attended by thousands involved in the criminal justice system over the past seven years. Through these efforts, we have protected the sanctity of life while enabling victims to tell their stories, leave their perpetrators, and ultimately change the pattern of abuse. But it all starts with education, and that is why we are actively guiding law enforcement on this path forward. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Sen. Bill Cassidy Endorses Jeff Landry for Louisiana Governor

Landry Launches Third TV Ad: Sharon

Lafayette, La. — Today, Jeff Landry released his third televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana. This is a continuation of his seven-figure ad buy. It will be broadcast statewide on tv, digital, and social media. The ad is narrated by Jeff Landry’s wife-Sharon. She explains Jeff’s love for our State and how he considers the people of Louisiana his family. 

 “Growing up in a small town, everyone was family to Jeff and that’s never changed. 

Jeff Landry loves his State and the people here are family to him. 

In Congress and now as Attorney General, Jeff has given his whole heart to protect our State.  

As Governor, he will fight for you, stand up for you, and always have your back. 

Because that’s what family does.” 

 ###

Louisiana AG Jeff Landry: ‘Protecting Innocence Means Speaking Up’

There’s a myth about the Titan god Cronus who, for fear of being overthrown, proceeded to devour each of his children. His wife Rhea, being cunning, protected their last child Zeus by feeding her husband a stone. Once Zeus was grown, he overthrew his father and banished him to the deepest pit of the underworld – beginning the Age of Mount Olympus.

Such myths, for their symbolism and imagination, are vessels for deeper lessons; and the lesson here is that certain Ages devour children. Perhaps, we are in such an Age right now; and it’s going to take good parents like Rhea to defend our innocent kids from destruction. As Louisiana’s attorney general, I have prioritized protecting children – especially from exploitation.

Read more: Louisiana AG Jeff Landry: ‘Protecting Innocence Means Speaking Up’

LANDRY: Think Different: How to Change Louisiana’s Economy

CNBC has ranked Louisiana #49 in America’s Top States for Businesses for 2023. Last year, our State was ranked #48 on that same list. In 2021, we were ranked 44th. Why the low ranking? We were given F’s in Workforce, Infrastructure, Health, and Innovation. We got D’s in Economy, Business Friendliness, and Access to Capital. The only thing we seem to be doing right is that we’re cheap — but that’s not enough to stop this downward trend. 

More than 10% of mortgages in our State are underwater — the worst figure in the Nation. As pointed out in our recent lawsuit against FEMA, this will only get worse thanks to Risk Rating 2.0, or “Equity in Action,” which has altered flood maps and increased flood insurance rates astronomically. For these reasons and more, people are leaving Louisiana in droves, seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families. 

Meanwhile, the Southeast leads the Nation for economic strength, according to CNBC. South Carolina — ranking #7 for Best Economies — is booming, and they’re not that different from us. They have ports, coastal towns, and even similar demographics; but that State has greatly surpassed us in economic prosperity over the past 30 years. They don’t even have S&P 500 companies headquartered there, yet South Carolina is considered one of the most popular places to start a business and build equity in your biggest asset — your home. 

Similarly, Tennessee is boasting the nation’s second-fastest growing economy, acquired mostly through manufacturing. Georgia is reclaiming its old position as a mecca for business and prosperity. Texas added nearly 630,000 jobs last year with payrolls ranking among the best in the country. And Florida is still booming from the COVID days, with the strongest economic growth, a balanced housing market, and plenty of job opportunities. We’re even trailing behind Mississippi and Arkansas. Why? 

Three reasons: workforce, infrastructure, and taxes. Our Education system might be squeaking by on this score board, but the fact of the matter is, we have too many people investing in worthless degrees rather than critical skills that our State desperately needs, such as welding, engineering, and cyber innovation. We need to return to the trades, and prepare students for careers that can actually offer a respectable living, high quality of life, and the ability to build a family, buy a home, and achieve stability. A Gender Studies degree doesn’t contribute to our State; the ability to build, repair, and envision something different might. 

Next, our infrastructure needs investment. Take Highway 30 for example, where half a billion dollars in annual wages and over 4,000 jobs in Ascension Parish rely on this stretch of road. The highway was supposed to be widened to six lanes years ago, but no action has been taken, resulting in major bottlenecks, traffic jams, and damage to our communities. But that’s only one example of Louisiana’s decline when it comes to our critical roads and bridges. Without the proper infrastructure, we will continue to struggle economically, because who wants to build a business when no one can get there? 

Finally, our tax system absolutely needs an overhaul so that Louisiana can be a State where businesses are eager to invest. We must reform and modernize our tax code, improve customer service, and compete with states like Texas and Tennessee on a project by project basis. But all of this will take time, just as it took time for Louisiana to slide down to the bottom of the list. We must be vigilant, we need to be smart, and we must embrace change — because one thing is clear: what we’ve been doing hasn’t worked and we’re only getting left behind. 

If Louisiana is to join the ranks of Southern States that are succeeding, we must make different choices. We want the people of Louisiana to be proud of our culture and our food, but also our work, our creations, and our ingenuity. We want people to move back home, and bring their talent back to our State. But to do that, we need to imagine New Orleans being more like Charleston or Nashville; Bossier City more like Phoenix and Tampa; and our infrastructure more like leaders such as Minnesota and the Dakotas. That is possible — but it requires us to choose differently, and this is our year to do just that. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

We're Going to Defeat Big Tech Censorship: Louisiana AG and Gov Candidate Jeff Landry on his Historic Legal Battle

PRESS RELEASE: CFNL Releases State-Wide Poll for Governor / Legislature

Citizens for a New Louisiana is proud to release a statewide poll conducted July 6-10, which surveyed the Governor’s race and public opinion of the State Legislature. The poll was conducted by Greg Rigamer, with Bernie Pinsonat providing political analysis.

Jeff Landry continues to dominate the field, receiving 30% of those surveyed with democrat Shawn Wilson coming in second place with 20%. All other gubernatorial candidates polled in single digits.

70% of those surveyed believe that the state legislature was irresponsible in the preparation and passing of the state budget. Only 10% felt that they acted responsibly. Furthermore, 55% think the state is heading in the wrong direction compared to 24% who think it is in the right direction.

Read more: PRESS RELEASE: CFNL Releases State-Wide Poll for Governor / Legislature

Landry Reports $9 Million Cash on Hand, $4.5 Million Raised Since April

 Historic $2 million raised in the month of June 

Lafayette, La. — Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has $9 million cash on hand with $4.5 million raised from April 8 to July 7. In June, a historically difficult time to raise money, Jeff Landry raised a record amount of over $2 million. 

“I am incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from people across our state. Louisiana deserves a government as good as her people,” said Jeff Landry. “With your continued support we will finally have safer communities, a great education system, and bring jobs and talent back home.”

LANDRY: Why BESE is Wrong on LEAP

Louisiana has dominated the country recently for our athletic achievements. Last month, LSU won college baseball’s World Series - the seventh national championship in program history. In the Spring, Kim Mulkey led LSU’s women’s basketball team to a national title. And this week, LSU became the only SEC school to have the top overall pick in the four major professional drafts (MLB, NBA, WNBA, and NFL). Clearly, our State’s schools can be a breeding ground for champions. So why are we so complacent when it comes to education?  

Recently, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Second Education (BESE), announced its support for a waiver system that would ultimately remove the LEAP test requirement. If BESE were allowing students to opt-out of these exams because they were succeeding -- with excellent grades, strong work ethic, and the ability to complete a special project related to their chosen profession -- that would be one thing. But BESE is actually lowering standards at our public schools simply to pass children through the system like a subpar widget on an industrial conveyor belt – and with that I take issue.   

Granted, it is the opinion of our office that BESE is within the law in removing the LEAP requirement; but just because you can do something does not mean that you should. According to witnesses at a recent school board meeting discussing this very issue, we learned that there are students in this State who are graduating at the top of their class while illiterate. Roughly 46% of our public schools have an “A” or “B” rating while only 30% of their students can read at their grade level. And we have employers in this State complaining because their recent hires can’t read or do basic math. That is probably why some at BESE believe that the Legislature should mandate LEAP tests, removing this decision from their board entirely — because we have to uphold basic standards in education one way or another. 

As the son of a school teacher who was incredibly passionate about her work, I can tell you that if teachers were allowed to teach, inspire and fan an inherent passion for learning, rather than be tied to a multiple choice test, we might not be in this predicament. However, we simply cannot let students graduate from high school and enter the workforce if they cannot read. In fact, students should not be allowed to graduate from the third grade without being able to read — let alone reach college illiterate.   

Yet every time we lower standards for our children we harm them. And I am willing to wager that if a student is able to graduate without being able to reach the most basic levels of proficiency in reading and arithmetic, they will fail in their career endeavors — resulting in many inevitably falling into a life of crime or addiction. It can’t be a coincidence that as we lower our educational standards we also see a surge in juvenile crime, with the consequences for such crimes drastically watered down as well. By reducing our standards, lowering our expectations, and just letting people pass go without any challenges to overcome whatsoever, we produce under-educated citizens for our State who are unable to move up and out of their circumstances, further feeding our sense of hopelessness. 

Of course, this does not apply to athletics. If sports coaches at LSU have poor performances for more than one season, they get fired and their programs are overhauled. Yet our education system has been failing our children for years. And similar to our criminal justice system, we cannot repair the damage done until we have full transparency and complete accountability. Until we achieve that benchmark, voiding this exam does more than hurt our children — it gives us a false sense of security within a failing model. That is why I am calling on BESE to do the right thing and get back to the basics. Otherwise, they do more than fail our children, they fail our entire State — and that’s a trophy no one wants to win. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Landry Launches Second TV Ad: In Their Shoes

LAFAYETTE, La. — Today, Jeff Landry released his second televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana.  This is a seven-figure ad buy that will be broadcast statewide on tv, digital, and social media.  The ad highlights Landry’s small town background and the Louisiana values of hard work, family, and faith that were instilled in him at an early age. 

“My mother was a school teacher, my dad a small-town architect. Times were tough, but we had faith, and we had each other. 

Digging ditches in a sugarcane field, serving our country, working nights as an officer, raising a family—I have walked in the very shoes of the people who struggle way more than they should in a state as blessed as this one. 

We can have a state government that fixes problems and delivers solutions.”

Troy Hebert on Jeff Landry

Former political rivals, now allies, Jeff Landry and Troy Hebert have had a colorful past. On Friday’s program, Jim Engster discussed the Governor’s race with former Sen. Hebert and got his thoughts on Jeff Landry’s run for the seat. Below is a short segment from that program in which Hebert discusses their past, the merits of Landry’s campaign and announces his support for his candidacy.

LANDRY: American People 1, Ministry of Truth 0

Latest Ruling on Louisiana and Missouri vs. Biden et al.

Despite the breathtaking arrogance of the Biden Administration and his cadre of federal bureaucrats, the Louisiana Department of Justice has won an historic injunction against them: effectively stopping federal agencies and White House officials from colluding with social media companies to censor your protected speech. As of today, the Ministry of Truth is officially on notice. 

The evidence of illegal censorship in this case is both shocking and overwhelming. In fact, as Judge Terry Doughty stated in his ruling, “if the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history.” 

Our evidence shows systematic political bias across this federal “Censorship Enterprise,” which overwhelmingly targeted conservative political speech, especially speech criticizing the Biden Administration and its policies. For example, senior federal officials ultimately decided what Americans could and could not say on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others regarding COVID-19, elections, government officials, and more. Such actions made these federal officials self-appointed arbiters of truth for all Americans under the guise of fighting “misinformation” and “disinformation.”

This was done, as claimed by senior national-security official Jen Easterly, the director of CISA, to protect America’s “cognitive infrastructure,” because it was “dangerous” to let Americans “pick their own facts.” In order to control this process, officials from the White House on down pressured, threatened, and berated social media platforms to stifle the speech of their political opponents, as well as everyday Americans on issues related to the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine injuries, the now-widely accepted lab leak theory, and even the Hunter Biden laptop story. 

Our evidence also demonstrates that the FBI pressured social media platforms to perpetrate “account takedowns” of hundreds of American social media users on a monthly basis, as well as collaborated with CISA in acts of trickery and deception to further induce censorship by social media companies. The U.S. State Department also collaborated with CISA and private research groups to establish a mass-surveillance and mass-censorship program across all major social media platforms — but that stops now. 

Today’s historic ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is meant to stop this unconstitutional censorship in its tracks. As Judge Doughty observed, “the question does not concern whether speech is conservative, moderate, liberal, progressive, or somewhere in-between. What matters is that Americans, despite their views, will not be censored or suppressed by the Government.” That is why we look forward to litigating this very important case to conclusion on behalf of all Louisianans and Americans injured by this shocking abuse of federal power.

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

AG Landry Visits with Maria Bartiromo on Crime Problem in Louisiana

Landry Leads Waguespack by 29 Points

LANDRY: Why We’re Suing FEMA

Louisiana is no stranger to floods. In fact, our State probably has the most expertise in the Nation on flooding, flood mapping, flood surges, and flood protection. We know how to decrease risk and protect our communities without waiting for guidance from the federal government. That is why we have taken initiative, collected tax dollars, and built sprawling levee systems in our most vulnerable areas with great success. And every Hurricane Season, when we remind our people to be prepared, our State has taken heed of that message. 
 
Unfortunately, when we tried to warn the Federal government that their plans for flood insurance premiums would decimate entire economies – especially along the Gulf Coast – they refused to listen. Now, after years of consistent flood insurance premiums, transparency, and reliable flood maps, homeowners are suddenly seeing a sharp spike in their flood insurance costs.  
 
For example, Russell Hebert and his wife built their home back in 1972; Steve Bourgeois and his family have lived in theirs for 57 years. Both enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program, which is mandatory for government-backed mortgages. They both live in a parish where tax dollars have gone towards mitigating the risk of hurricanes and floods with levees constructed, pumps installed, and other protection mechanisms completed. Yet Russell’s flood insurance, which costs a little over $3,000 two years ago, now requires him to pay $5,600 for the exact same coverage. Steve, whose premium was a little over $600 is now over $6,000 – all thanks to FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0, also known as “Equity in Action.” 
 
At the root of this problem is gross speculation. For instance, Steve’s property has never flooded and has never been considered part of a flood zone before; but FEMA has repeatedly refused to explain why their flood map has changed or how their calculations were made. What's more: FEMA is refusing to take into account all of the risks mitigated through local investment and planning like building levees, elevating homes, and more. Before Equity in Action, those mitigation measures would have resulted in discounted premiums; now, premiums are more expensive than ever, based on a secret program with secret math. 
 
FEMA used their legacy rating system for 52 years, basing flood insurance premiums on historical, discernible data in order to achieve what Congress dictated back in 1968: make flood insurance coverage affordable and available so that flood victims would not be overly-reliant on post-flood financial aid or disaster relief. Today, Risk Rating 2.0 is its own disaster both in Louisiana and across our country, where roughly 50% of people live and work near water. 
 
This is why Solicitor General Liz Murrill and I are leading a broad coalition of 10 states, 43 parishes, 12 levee boards, and a couple of municipalities in suing FEMA. Naturally, we are grateful for the assistance Louisiana has received from the federal government after many natural disasters; and there are certainly good people who work at these agencies. But Risk Rating 2.0 violates the transparency mandate that Congress specifically required. Even worse, it puts too many families at risk of bankruptcy or foreclosure. 
 
So my legal petition asks the court for relief – not only for the people of Louisiana, but also for every American who risks losing their home and shutting down their small business after doing everything right.
 
It is unfortunate that it had to come to this; but after years of trying to negotiate, our only choice was to sue FEMA for relief or stand back and watch as our citizens hand over the keys to their homes and small businesses. We have chosen to fight for you. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Former State Senator Troy Hebert Defend Jeff Landry

The following was issued by the LAGOP yesterday in response to an attack ad sent out by a PAC supporting GOP candidate for Governor of Louisiana, Stephen Waguespack:

Majority Leader Steve Scalise issued the following statement earlier today. The LAGOP fully endorses the Majority Leader's sentiments, and believes this pro-Waguespack attack against the endorsed Republican candidate for Governor, Jeff Landry, to be unprovoked and unwarranted. We urge Mr. Waguespack and his supporters to refrain from such attacks in the future.

The Majority Leader's remarks are quoted below:

"Louisiana must elect a bold conservative as our next Governor in order to move our state forward and in a positive direction. The best way for a Republican to regain the Governor's mansion is by laying out their vision for the state's future and building momentum by way of inspiring others to join in their cause.

While the temptation always exists, Republicans attacking other Republicans is the only way we can lose this November's election. Stephen Waguespack is a friend, but those supporting his campaign and outside efforts are hurting his chances—and Louisiana Republicans—by breaking Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment in launching negative attacks against the Republican front-runner, Jeff Landry.

We must learn from the mistakes of the 2015 and 2019 governor's races, where Republican infighting ultimately squandered our opportunities to win the Governor's mansion. As we work towards getting Louisiana back on track in 2023, Republican candidates must focus on their positive vision for our state, not instigating intra-party attacks and provoking defensive retaliation. Ultimately, this unproductive discourse only benefits those who want to keep our state on the wrong track.

Stephen Waguespack should denounce this negative ad and Reboot Louisiana PAC should take down this attack ad immediately."

In addition, former rival in a heated race for Louisiana State Senate several years ago, Troy Hebert, had this to say about Jeff while on a program with Jim Engster on Tuesday morning:

Trey Ourso and Troy Hebert Discuss Louisiana's Governor's Race

Senior political strategist and partner at Ourso Beychok Trey Ourso is joined by former Louisiana state representative and politician Troy Hebert to discuss several political topics including the upcoming governor's race and its candidates as well as the debt ceiling. Scientist from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center Dr. Claire Berryman gives insight into Pennington's research regarding altitudes effect on health.

Eight Louisiana District Attorneys and Sheriffs Endorse Jeff Landry for Governor

Lafayette, La. —Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of four Louisiana district attorneys and four Louisiana sheriffs. Jeff Landry is a former police officer, sheriff’s deputy, national guardsman, and military police officer. More endorsements from Louisiana law enforcement officials are to come.

 Sheriff Endorsements:

 "The next Governor’s top priority must be to address the broken laws related to crime. Jeff Landry has my endorsement for Governor because he is the only candidate in this race who I trust to fix the crime problem in our state. He supports our men and women in law enforcement, and he will fight for the safety and well-being of families here in DeSoto Parish. We must prioritize the law abiding citizens and victims in this state,” Sheriff Jayson Richardson - Desoto Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. As a former police officer and sheriff's deputy, there is no better friend of law enforcement than Jeff. He understands what it takes to keep our communities safe, and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order governor Louisiana needs,” Sheriff Craig Webre - Lafourche Parish.

"Jeff Landry is the right man at the right time. As a former officer, deputy sheriff, and current attorney general, he has firsthand experience and knowledge to deal with our out-of-control crime problem on his first day in office. He is a fighter who doesn't back down when the best interest of Louisiana is at stake. I personally endorse him, and I am 100 percent certain he will make a great Governor for Bossier and all of Louisiana,” Sheriff Julian Whittington - Bossier Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support. As a former police officer and sheriff's deputy, Jeff has been a true friend to law enforcement. Jeff will be the law-and-order Governor that Louisiana and Caddo Parish desperately need,” Sheriff Steve Prator - Caddo Parish.

District Attorney Endorsements:

"I am endorsing Jeff Landry for Governor because he is an example of the core values of Louisiana and its citizens. Jeff has continuously supported law enforcement and is a strong advocate of a fair judicial system. He is passionate about upholding the rule of law and protecting and preserving our constitutional rights. Jefferson Davis Parish, and the State of Louisiana, would be well-served by having Jeff Landry as our next Governor. Jeff has the passion and the fortitude to take on the tough issues and challenges that we are facing in the public safety sector and criminal justice system,” Lauren Heinen - 31st JDC - Jefferson Davis Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my endorsement for Governor because he has continuously demonstrated that he will do what it takes to back the men and women of law enforcement in upholding the rule of law, protecting our citizens against criminals and preserving our constitutional rights. I believe the public safety of the citizens of Rapides Parish would be best served by Jeff Landry leading Louisiana as our next Governor,” Phillip Terrell - 9th JDC - Rapides Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. Jeff understands what it takes to keep our communities safe, and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order Governor of Louisiana. Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary Parish will be well served by Jeff,” Bo Duhe - 16th JDC - Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary Parish.

 “Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. Like me, Jeff understands what it takes to keep our communities safe and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order Governor Louisiana and St. Landry Parish needs,” Chad Pitre - 27th JDC - St. Landry Parish.