LANDRY: Vote for Louisiana

Election Day is Saturday, October 14

There is something intangible about Louisiana — a mystery that cannot be held, seen, or even named but exists nonetheless. It is an almost mythic quality held up by morning fog in a duck blind, or held down by the sweltering summer heat. Travel the world and tell people where you’re from and you’ll surely encounter a stark shift in demeanor, a booming smile, and a surge of excitement as some stranger declares, “Oh, I love Louisiana!” They might go on to praise our hospitality, our food, our music, or even our culture; but deep down we know all of these wonderful things exist because of our greatest resource: the people who call Louisiana home.

Hundreds of years ago, many of our ancestors found this emerald gem of land and navigated its bayous, swamps, and rivers. They built cities and trading posts, nurtured the fertile soil, and created a unique and multifaceted civilization unlike any other. There may be glimmers of France, Spain, Cuba, West Africa, Sicily, and Anglo-Saxon traditions woven into this place alongside our Indigenous tribes, but Louisiana is much greater than the sum of its parts. She is the jewel of our own creation, as vibrant and changing as the waters that ebb and flow along her banks.

Yet, for years, our State has been in a dark phase. Poor leadership, corruption, and bad policies have transformed our innate potential and true abundance into violence, sickness, and death. Instead of admiring our resiliency and fortitude, visitors and residents alike now fear for their safety.

Our education systems have been overwhelmed simultaneously by woke policies and increasingly violent youths. Our sheriffs and police departments are struggling under an influx of hardened criminals under the age of 18 alongside mental health problems that sadly lack support. Families and businesses alike are crumbling under the weight of Bidenomics, unfair flood insurance rates, and forever increasing taxation that never seems to benefit anyone — except the power players in Baton Rouge. And while there are those of us who stubbornly refuse to leave, our State is still losing 30,000 people a year because of violent crime and a lack of opportunity.

The truth is, the people of this State are tired of just surviving and trying to vote our way out of problems that only seem to get worse. And as a result, many might choose to sit out of this election, to retire to the seclusion of the deer stand, drown out their disappointment at a football game, or refuse to opt-in because they’re convinced that things will never change and “you’re kidding yourself to think otherwise.”

But for better or worse, we get the reality we choose. And for the past decade, at least, we have ultimately chosen the situation we find ourself in today — by not voting, by not speaking up, and by choosing not to participate. The other Southern states are booming economically because their people made different decisions — they chose to vote for better leadership, to have their voices heard, and to make their presence known. They decided that their land, their people, their heritage was worth fighting for, improving, and building anew. They made an active decision to change the status quo and reach for success. Now, that decision is up to you.

If you’re reading this, chances are you love Louisiana as much as I do. You want better schools and opportunities for our children, safer communities, and competitive jobs that will enable you to live comfortably — not make impossible decisions between food, fuel, and insurance. Hurricane after hurricane has taught us that we can survive anything Mother Nature throws at us; but this State cannot survive indifference. We either choose to fight for what we love, or we will succumb to the rot of stagnation and inaction.

I am ready to lead us forward towards a brighter and more prosperous future; but as I said from day one: I am not running for Governor — we are. So this Saturday, I ask you to participate, not for me but for yourself, your family, and your future with this land. Vote for us. Vote for Louisiana, and make our greatest known.

Because our State has always been great because of you, and you decide her fate whether you show up or not.

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Billy Tauzin Endorses Jeff Landry

We have this opportunity to get it right or sink even further into a disappointing failed institution. I know that Jeff Landry is determined that our people deserve better than what we’ve gotten.”

Photo source: Wikipedia

LAFAYETTE, La. —Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of former U.S. Congressman Billy Tauzin.

Read Congressman Billy Tauzin’s full endorsement below.

"A Governor for our time. We don’t have lots of time to turn things around: to end this growing lawlessness, to lift this state from the bottom and rebuild economic opportunity, enough to give the children of our state a reason to stay and to prosper here, with us, rather than in some other state. I believe Jeff Landry is positioned to be our next Governor, but even if he were not, if he was well behind instead of well ahead, I would be endorsing him today.”

“Louisiana is just too deep in a hole to do less than elect a new governor, who has been trained and skilled on both the state and national level to serve all of us, and lead our state to a better place… while there is still time. Jeff is committed to do just that. Have you noticed how the bipartisan national association of both Democrat and Republican State Attorney Generals chose Jeff to lead them. How with his prior service in Congress he has gained national recognition as one who gets a job, does a job, and does it well. And we desperately need a doer and a true leader today, one who understands just how hard this will be.”

“We, current and past elected officials, get to know one another pretty well. I’ve come to know Jeff, not from the biased media or from his political opponents, but on a man to man personal relationship. I trust him. I have been honest with him, too. While I’m prepared to help him be a great Governor of our state, we who support him will want to see real progress, real reform, even though that may require hard choices to be made. Louisiana is near a tipping point of no return. We have this opportunity to get it right or sink even further into a disappointing failed institution. I know that Jeff Landry is determined that our people deserve better than what we’ve gotten. He has my full endorsement and my prayers for his and our success.”

LANDRY: A Matter of Life and Death

No matter how many times I repeat the statistics, the reality of Louisiana’s crime epidemic and broken criminal justice system are best known by those in the thick of it. We can highlight that three of Louisiana’s major cities are some of the most dangerous in the country, that New Orleans is ranked as one of the most dangerous in the world, and that our first responders and criminologists are underpaid, overworked, and in desperate need of support.

But for the past eight years, the Edwards Administration has chosen to put criminal rights over victim rights. By choosing to measure only the incarceration rate rather than its implications to the State’s crime rate, the Governor has created a disheartening trend he intends to push all the way to the fast-approaching end of his tenure. Whatever the intentions, this has resulted in a legacy of supposed savings and surplus at the very expense of Louisiana lives.

Thankfully, my office – in collaboration with District Attorneys – was able to convince the 19th Judicial District Court to dramatically decrease the Governor’s chances of granting clemency to our State’s most violent and heinous criminals. Instead of allowing the Edwards Administration to cut the line, bend the rules, and manipulate various timelines to expedite clemency hearings, the Court upheld Louisiana law. This ultimately means that the Governor may not cheat the system in his waning days in office – ensuring that crime victims can still hang onto hope of getting the justice our State promised them.

I have consistently sided with the victims of these horrible crimes, even organizing a hearing at the State Capitol so that loved ones of those tortured, raped, and murdered were able to tell their stories, express their views, and finally have their voices heard. While our detractors declared this a political stunt, we all know better; it was necessary for the Legislature and people of our State to hear inconvenient truths, no matter how painful they are to hear.

Capital punishment is reserved only for the most heinous crimes known to man, which are done knowingly and with a rational mind. In total, there are 41 capital offenses that are punishable by death, including mass murder, contract and torture killers, killers of children, and terrorists. More importantly, it is constitutional – which is why Solicitor General Liz Murrill and I have worked diligently to remove obstacles in the courts and effectively clear the path for a future Governor to move forward with promised executions.

Perhaps that is why this Governor has been so eager to dismiss the rule of law and infuriate a large number of district attorneys, judges, first responders, and victims. If we’ve learned anything over the past eight years, it’s that the Edwards Administration often sides with the most dangerous, the most violent, and the most destructive over the innocent, the injured, and the brutally slaughtered. They have prioritized hug-a-thug policies over what’s fair, righteous, and just. And in his final months in office, the Governor seems determined to insult the victims of horrible crimes even further, rather than leave quietly and allow others to clean up his mess.

But with our court victory for victims, I have hope that the tides are turning and that justice will finally be served. I am also proud to have joined numerous district attorneys throughout Louisiana in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that clemency reviews for death row offenders are conducted in an open, transparent and legal process.

What our State needs is leadership, the kind that we exhibited in this situation. By standing up for the most vulnerable and protecting the rule of law, we supported victims and justice — not carnage and chaos. As a result, the people of our State got one step closer to having a criminal justice system that fulfills its promises.  

Jeff Landry
Attorney General - Louisiana

LAGOP: It is Time to Unite Behind Jeff Landry

With less than two weeks to go until Election Day on October 14th, we are entering the final phase of Louisiana’s unique open primary. Our candidates have suffered long and hard these many months, but the next several days will be critical. This is no time to rest, and the same can be said for the campaign staffs, their consultants and volunteers, as well as our party activists.

So you are exhausted and may need some motivation, eh? Well, I have a few brief words to write which may perk you up. Basically, I want to briefly remind everyone of what we’ve endured for almost eight years under the failed administration of John Bel Edwards, and why conservatives must win these upcoming races.

To begin, remember all the bitter, hard-fought special sessions? Not counting the legally required eight regular sessions and granting John Bel Edwards the two organizational sessions held at the beginning of each term, Louisiana’s divided government required no less than fifteen special sessions, three of which were veto sessions. Fun, huh? That must be some sort of record, and not one we ever want to beat. Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you have a Republican-led legislature and a governor who campaigned as a moderate Democrat (remember all those campaign promises in 2015), and then governed as a lefty.

And what about all the bad bills which did pass, and the good government and common-sense bills that John Bel and his Democrat minions defeated or vetoed during those twenty-three regular and special sessions (not counting the three veto sessions)? Well, the cost of governing Louisiana doubled, which means that we are now living on borrowed time. Our infrastructure and schools are still a mess, and when the federal government cuts back on those subsidies, which it eventually will, the state will go broke instantly. Come to think of it, that’s probably what the Democrats always wanted to happen anyway.

Too bad about conservative attempts to control spending, or clean up the welfare rolls, or prevent vaccine mandates and school closures, or audit the voter rolls and implement a host of other measures designed to protect the integrity of our elections. Never forget that we had to convene historic veto-override sessions just to keep biological males from taking over women’s sports, and to prevent the medically-sanctioned mutilation of vulnerable minor children claiming to suffer with gender dysphoria.

There were dozens more vetoes of good bills by John Bel that weren’t overturned, and hundreds of good bills which were defeated or never even filed, but all that can be fixed in the next administration. That is ultimately what we are fighting for in this election, and that is why we need to redouble our efforts in these last few days. Because we have already wasted almost eight years, we don’t have much time remaining to straighten things out- our fellow citizens are leaving Louisiana in droves and our businesses are departing or shutting down, thereby further eroding our already inadequate tax base.

It’s time to pull the lever for the one proven candidate with the will, the guts, and the energy to turn Louisiana around. That person is Jeff Landry, the only gubernatorial candidate endorsed by the Republican Party of Louisiana. Every poll since the beginning of this race has shown him to be far in the lead, with the support of more voters than all other conservatives and independents combined!

It is high time for Republicans, independents, and the remaining sane Democrats to rally around our candidate, Jeff Landry. There’s even a good possibility that he could win this election in the open primary on October 14th, and avoid the runoff on November 18th. That would allow him to begin the transition process over a month earlier, and to use the time to help elect other conservative candidates.

A brighter future for Louisiana is just around the corner, but only if we get out to vote and unite behind Jeff and our other conservative candidates, starting with early voting which has already begun.

Louis Gurvich, Chairman
Republican Party of Louisiana

Landry Receives Endorsement of Over 20 Community Papers Across Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. —Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of the Louisiana State Newspapers which includes 24 community papers across the State. These newspapers are some of Louisiana’s oldest newspapers representing Abbeville, Kaplan, Kinder, Franklin, Mamou, Basile, Marksville, Morgan City, Pierre Part, Bunkie, Oakdale, Columbia, Rayne, Church Point, Rayville, Crowley, St. Martinville, Delhi, St. Joseph, Eunice, Ville Platte, Gueydan, and Oak Grove Louisiana.

“We are honored to have received the endorsement of over 20 community papers across Louisiana. These are some of the oldest papers in our State, and they know their communities best. As Governor, we look forward to giving Louisiana a government as good as its people,” said Jeff Landry.

Excerpts from the endorsement:

“…Jeff will always do what’s right – not what’s politically popular.”

“As Louisiana’s Attorney General for the past eight years Jeff has worked tirelessly to stem the opioid crisis, prosecute welfare fraud, restructure and reform the Department of Justice and protect your Constitutional rights and successfully prosecute dangerous criminals that harm the good people of Louisiana’s quality of life.”

“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. Jeff will be the law-and-order Governor that Louisiana desperately needs.”

“He is a fearless advocate for the Constitution and a champion for the Louisiana he loves. With Jeff Landry as governor and a more business-friendly climate, Louisiana oil and gas jobs will power the nation and fuel the world. We urge Louisiana voters to choose Jeff Landry as our next Governor.”

Steve Scalise Endorses Jeff Landry

“Jeff is a good man who I trust to fix the very real problems we’re all facing.”

LAFAYETTE, La. —Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of Louisiana Congressman and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Watch Steve Scalise’s full endorsement video by clicking here. 

 Steve Scalise’s endorsement statement: 

“One of the most important elections of our time is just around the corner.  We need a Governor with the courage, vision and proven track record of standing up for our families.  We need someone who will finally get our state moving in the right direction.  I know that Jeff Landry is that leader.  I’m proud to call Jeff Landry a friend.  Shoulder to shoulder we served in Congress and fought for this state and our shared values.  As Attorney General, Jeff Landry took on FEMA, fought back against big government, and protected our jobs and our way of life.  Jeff is a good man who I trust to fix the very real problems we’re all facing.  Problems like crime, education, and skyrocketing insurance costs.  That’s why I am proud to be voting for Jeff Landry.”

 Jeff Landry issued the following statement following Scalise’s endorsement:

“Steve Scalise is a champion for Louisiana and we are honored and humbled to have his endorsement.  This election is a pivotal time for our state, and a real opportunity to put Louisiana on the right path.  I look forward to working closely with Steve to fix our insurance crisis, restore law and order in our communities, and protect our children.” 

Richard Nelson Endorses Jeff Landry

LAFAYETTE, La. —Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of Representative Richard Nelson in his race for Governor of Louisiana. Richard Nelson recently ended his bid for governor and in turn, put his support behind Jeff Landry.

In his statement, Nelson said:

“I ran for governor to improve the lives of the people of Louisiana, and we have been fortunate to travel to every corner of the state spreading the gospel of good government. While this was always going to be a difficult race, I am proud of the impact we made with the resources we had. I want to thank my supporters and especially my family for the sacrifices they have made on this journey."

“My heart will always be committed to Louisiana, and that is why I am happy to support Attorney General Landry to be our next governor. I believe that Jeff has the commitment and the courage to bring the fundamental reforms we need in state government. Our people need good jobs, good schools, and good health, and Jeff is the best candidate for the job.”

Jeff Landry was honored to receive the endorsement saying:

“We are honored to have the endorsement of Representative Richard Nelson. These past few months have proven that Richard is deeply committed and passionate about improving our state and the lives of folks across Louisiana. He and I both understand this race is an opportunity to chart a new course for Louisiana, one where our children and grandchildren want to stay and build a future. I look forward to continuing to unite folks across our state as we work to bring Louisiana a government as good as its people.”

Landry Launches Eighth TV Ad: Fed Up

LAFAYETTE, La. — Today, Jeff Landry released his eighth televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana. The ad highlights Louisiana’s crime problem and how as governor, Jeff Landry will restore law and order. Watch the full ad here.

 “Louisiana, the worst in the nation for murder. 

Three of America’s most dangerous cities are right here. 

Violent crime is out of control. 

Juvenile crime is skyrocketing. 

Jeff Landry knows the system is broken. 

End catch and release.

Criminals should serve their time.

Woke judges and DAs should be held accountable. 

And victims and police deserve our respect. 

A governor who will finally restore law and order.”

Oil & Gas Workers Association Endorses Jeff Landry for Governor

Lafayette, La. — Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of the Oil & Gas Workers Association.

"It is an honor to receive the endorsement of the Oil & Gas Workers Association. The oil and gas industry built Louisiana and keeps our economy moving. Standing up for Louisiana's oil and gas industry, the jobs it creates, and the wellbeing of our families will be a top priority of mine as Governor,” said Jeff Landry

Matt Coday, President & Founder, Oil & Gas Workers Association issued the following statement:

“Our oil and gas jobs, economy, America’s energy independence, and our national security are under attack.”

“America’s Oil & Gas Workers need fighters in every state who will not back down to the Biden administration, extreme “environmentalists”, and federal agencies and courts weaponized against American workers and families.

“Jeff Landry understands USA oil and gas production funds roads, schools, hospitals, social programs, and our First Responders. As Attorney General, Jeff Landry has taken on the Biden administration to protect our oil and gas jobs and secure Louisiana’s economy.”

“With Jeff Landry as governor and a more business-friendly climate, Louisiana oil and gas jobs will power the nation and fuel the world.”

“Oil & Gas Workers Association proudly endorses Jeff Landry for Governor and encourages all Louisianans to support him with your vote on October 14.”

LANDRY: The Trouble with Woke DAs And Post-Conviction Plea Deals

Imagine the unthinkable: your loved one is killed in a horrible crime. Upon notification, you experience a surge of grief, shock, anger, and disbelief; then you are plunged into Louisiana’s criminal justice system. After an investigation, the arrest is made; then a grand jury indicts the perpetrator with one count of second-degree murder. The killer pleads “not guilty.”

After months or even years of trial preparation, you’re in court for several days – experiencing those same raw feelings all over again as lawyers on both sides make their arguments to the jury. The facts of the case stick to you like glue; and by the end of the trial, you feel tarred and feathered with emotions, regrets, and what ifs. After a short period of time, the jury comes back with a unanimous verdict of guilty.

A few weeks later, the man who ended your loved one’s life and destroyed your own is sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The appeals process proceeds, during which the killer is defeated again, and again, and again. Slowly, you find yourself able to relax a little more, let go of some anger, and eventually find a sense of calm. And as the decades roll by, you find comfort in justice being served and the saga being over.

But then — suddenly — over 20 years later, the District Attorney surprises everyone by granting a post-conviction plea deal. This backroom deal eliminates the unanimous verdict for second-degree murder, instead free-passing a lesser charge of manslaughter. Gone is the sentence of life imprisonment; now it is simply 35 years with credit for time served. The murderer you thought would never see the free world again could now be standing behind you in the checkout line at your local grocery store.

Unfortunately, this is no longer a hypothetical situation; and for too many, this is a fearful reality because of La. C.Cr.P. Article 930:10. In 2021, the Louisiana Legislature unanimously passed SB 186 and John Bel Edwards signed it into law as Act 104. While proponents claimed it would “enhance the judiciary’s authority” and “conserve judicial economy,” the truth is it enables district attorneys to serve as kings over their fiefdoms – issuing pardons to anyone at all, without any limitations or constraints.

Naturally, no one wants innocent individuals to rot in jail. That is why our appeals process exists: to give defendants the opportunity to prove their factual innocence. However, once a verdict has been finalized, there are no more ‘get out of jail free’ cards...until Act 104. And while most DAs are honorable and only a few have ever used this statute, Jason Williams in New Orleans has made it a method for emptying jails and releasing offenders back into the streets. He has granted pardons left and right to rapists and murderers, further feeding chaos in one of the most dangerous cities in America.

These woke, hug-a-thug policies have very real consequences. After Williams released convicted killer Henry Talley through a post-conviction plea deal, Talley was arrested for fatally shooting 28-year-old mother and nursing assistant Asia Davis. Ms. Davis was pelted with bullets and left to bleed out in front of her apartment complex in the middle of a service road and in clear view of passing traffic. For the victims of the original crimes and the victims of any future crimes perpetrated by offenders like Talley, my office and I are pushing back to end this madness.

Pardons, acts of mercy, and the power of clemency have belonged to the governor since 1804. Even then, reprieves are only granted to those who receive a “favorable recommendation of the Board of Pardons.” To grant a district attorney unfettered power to pardon any defendant by tossing out a final “conviction, sentence, or habitual offender status” without proving factual innocence is not only unconstitutional but also insulting to the victims and their families.

That is why I challenged the statute in court allowing for post-conviction plea agreements; and last week, we delivered a win for victims and their families. The judicial branch should never have been granted this level of power; and on Friday, the Louisiana Supreme Court agreed. The court upheld the rule of law and stopped this unconstitutional pathway to freedom for some of our State’s worst offenders.

The measure of our success will never be how many violent offenders we let out of jail; rather, it will be how we keep people from going to jail. As I have said many times before: when good people do bad things, they deserve a second chance; but when bad people do bad things, they should be put away for a long time. Fortunately, the Supreme Court made that possible by removing this unconstitutional path to injustice.  

Jeff Landry
Attorney General - Louisiana

Landry Receives NRA Endorsement

Lafayette, La. — Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the upcoming Louisiana Governor’s race.

 “We are humbled and honored to receive the endorsement of the NRA. As a former police officer, I know how important it is for law-abiding citizens to have the right to self-defense. As someone who grew up hunting and fishing, I was raised to respect firearms. Our Second Amendment must be protected and as Governor, I look forward to continuing that fight,” said Jeff Landry.

NRA’s Endorsement Letter:

Dear Attorney General Landry:

On behalf of NRA’s Political Victory Fund and our members in Louisiana, I am pleased to announce your “A+” rating and endorsement in the October Primary Election for governor. This endorsement reflects your lengthy and proven record of support for the Second Amendment and our hunting heritage. This is our highest rating.

As Attorney General, you worked to protect and expand the right to self-defense by calling on Congress to pass national concealed carry reciprocity. You petitioned the United States Supreme Court to uphold gun owners' rights in NYSRPA v. Bruen. And you unapologetically stood with gun owners and sportsmen in Louisiana by joining every important legal effort to protect the Second Amendment.

Critically, you have also stood against anti-gun zealots, refusing to bend to their calls for gun control as an ineffective means to reduce violent crime. Clearly, if elected the next governor of Louisiana, you will continue to stand against those who seek to diminish our freedoms by ultimately destroying the Second Amendment and our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Your rating and endorsement will be listed on our website at www.nrapvf.org and shared with NRA members prior to the upcoming election. Please feel free to communicate your rating and endorsement to voters as you travel the state. Best of luck with your campaign, and we look forward to continuing to work with you to defend and promote our rights in the Pelican State!

Sincerely,

Randy Kozuch
Chairman
NRA Political Victory Fund

Jeff Landry's Swamp Party

Jeff Landry hosted his “Swamp Party” on Friday the 8th at the Atchafalaya Club in Henderson, LA. Hundreds of supporters turned out to rally Landry on to victory and to listen to music by Geno Delafose and Wayne Toups.

Jeff Landry Releases Seventh TV Ad: Family Lessons

LAFAYETTE, La. - Today, Jeff Landry released his seventh televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana. The ad is narrated by Jeff Landry’s wife, Sharon. She describes Jeff’s character as one of courage, principle, and kindness.

 Watch the full ad here:

“Jeff Landry is a man of courage, principle, and kindness.

 His mother was a school teacher, his father a man of faith.

 It was their small-town values that formed Jeff’s character.

 As a veteran, a police officer, and our Attorney General, Jeff’s always been a servant leader.

 How do I know? We’ve been married for over 20 years.

 And my husband has always put people first.”

Former Economic Development Director and Businessman Jeff Landry Releases Sixth TV Ad: “Plan”

LAFAYETTE, La. - Today, Jeff Landry released his sixth televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana. The ad highlights Jeff's background and knowledge as a former economic development director, small business owner, and someone who has employed hundreds of Louisiana citizens. Jeff knows what it takes to bring jobs and economic growth back to Louisiana. 

See the full ad here. 

 “For too long, we’ve let other states get ahead of us in job growth. 

 As a small business owner I know what it takes—I’ve employed hundreds of Louisiana citizens. 

 And as an economic development director, I beat Texas.

 We brought government and industry together—to win a Fortune 500 company and with it, thousands of jobs and an economic boom to the region. 

I love Louisiana and nobody works harder than us. 

We can start winning again."

LANDRY: September Surprise

We’ve barely dipped our toes into the month of September, and already the attacks against us have begun — with political enemies determined to stop our momentum to the Governor’s Office. But here’s what we know: the people of Louisiana are tired of politics as usual. They are tired of voting for change and economic prosperity, only to end up with more of the same (except worse). They are tired of hoping for something different, only to end up with less. And they are tired of theatrical productions and emotional ploys that distract from the actual issues affecting them at home. 

Unfortunately, the insiders in Baton Rouge are not done playing games. In fact, they intend to stir chaos all the way to the finish line — just to hold on to their crumbling grasp of power for a little while longer, no matter what it might cost our State. In fact, they are lowering themselves to the carnival that is the worst of Louisiana politics. When we say “enough is enough,” that’s exactly what we mean. 

Now, as most of you know, we announced our run for Governor in October of last year — we didn’t sit around to see who else would enter the race. We are serious about the changes we can make in our State. That’s why we highlighted our platform from the very beginning, declaring that we intend to remedy disastrous criminal justice reforms and to protect our communities; that we will rebuild our failing education system and give power back to parents; and that we will support Louisiana’s economy so that we can actually compete with the other Southern states who are booming while we fall far behind. 

It appears some government power players don’t want those things to change. That’s why they have dug up a flight from two years ago when I was a featured speaker at an attorneys general conference. Instead of charging the taxpayers for travel, I flew on the plane of a retired private citizen who has no business with the State or the Louisiana Department of Justice. This trip will likely be pushed to the forefront of the Governor’s race as the “September Surprise” brought to the public by a heavily left-leaning “Ethics” Board that seems intent on keeping me from doing my job.

But make no mistake: that is why we are running for Governor. We are doing this because there is a job to be done, and no one else is qualified to do it. Some might think we’re too Cajun, too animated, too aggressive; but we have a proven record of getting things done in the most efficient way possible. Of course, the taxpayers of our State could have financed this trip to that conference; instead a retired friend picked up the bill. But bureaucracy doesn’t like efficiency. No, it thrives on pieces of paper, gossip, and gross exaggeration — which is why Louisiana is in the failing position she’s in today. 

We don’t need more of the same. We need a team builder, a problem solver, and someone who proudly believes that Louisiana is worth fighting for. I have served our Nation, our State, and our community for my entire adult life — and these games are not going to stop us from making Louisiana the Jewel of the South, whether the good ole boys like it or not. 

Former Economic Development Director and Businessman Jeff Landry Releases Fifth TV Ad: “Field of Dreams”

LAFAYETTE, La. - Today, Jeff Landry released his fifth televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana. The ad highlights Jeff's background and accomplishments as a former economic development director, business owner, and someone who has employed hundreds of Louisiana citizens. Jeff beat out Texas and brought government and industry together to bring economic growth to Louisiana. See the full ad here.

 “Where once there were no jobs, now there’s growth and opportunity. 

 A young man on a mission brought government and industry together and helped Louisiana beat Texas to win a Fortune 500 company. 

 That young man and future leader—Jeff Landry. 

 Jeff’s work set in motion an economic boom generating millions for safe streets and a better quality of life.”

 Background:

In 1998, Jeff was selected as Executive Director of the St. Martin Parish Economic Development Authority (SMEDA). Landry successfully brought industry, the parish and state government and the community together to secure Baker Hughes, a Fortune 500 company, for the St. Martinville area. Today, because of Jeff's work, the St. Martinville Industrial Park has grown to over ninety different companies. Over the past 20 years this project, created under Landry’s leadership, has generated over $100 million in tax revenues for the area—funding schools, roads, police and infrastructure improvements.  

 In the late 90s, Baker Hughes operated multiple divisions across Louisiana and was moving towards shuttering them and relocating all operations to Texas as an efficiency measure.  Jeff Landry and the SMEDA team took immediate action and were able to create a package that bested any offer Texas had on the table and bring home a massive economic development win for Louisiana. “Baker Hughes had just about decided on a location in Texas,” said Dale Huval, a current member of SMEDA. “But the tremendous effort put forth by Jeff Landry, Governor Mike Foster and numerous other state and local leaders, they turned the deal around. Today the St. Martinville Industrial Park is an economic engine for the region.”

 News quotes regarding the project:

 March groundbreaking for $25 million project. After two years of intense negotiations, construction plans for the Fortune 500 company’s St. Martin Parish consolidation have been released.

Teche News, February 28, 1998

 Jeff worked many long hours and tiring days to accomplish the goals, and he did it with vision and dignity.” 

Fred Mills, SMEDA President, Teche News, November 18, 1998

 “I didn’t realize how big an operation this was going to be,” 

Gov. Mike Foster, Teche News, April 22, 1998

 -“That was one of the reasons we settled in the area. Everybody pulled so hard from the governmental side on down, we felt these guys were really working with us.” 

Ed Howell, President of Baker Oil Tools, Teche News, July 1, 1998

LANDRY: The Opioid Crisis

AG Jeff Landry with Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero with a Drug Take Back Box.

On January 10, 1980, the New England Journal of Medicine published a letter claiming that prescription opioids rarely lead to addiction. It would go on to be “heavily” and “uncritically” cited to support the prescription practices that followed. Fast forward forty years, and we’ve got popular shows like Hulu’s Dopesick and Netflix’s Painkiller highlighting the damage this has done to communities across our Nation.  

For too long, there were more opioid prescriptions than people in Louisiana; and it is estimated that 120 Americans die of an overdose every day — a rate that has tripled since 1999. For reference, Purdue Pharma’s “miracle drug” OxyContin was released in 1995.  

Targeting blue collar workers susceptible to work-related injuries, the Big Pharma giant encouraged physicians to prescribe these time-released doses of oxycodone — a cousin of heroin twice as powerful as morphine — for pain ranging from arthritis and back injuries to fibromyalgia and headaches. Sales reps claimed that, despite preconceptions about opioids, “fewer than 1% of patients who took OxyContin became addicted.”  

This was proven absolutely untrue as a surge of addiction soon fed a wave of armed robbery, violent crime, prostitution, and theft as job and child abandonment rates increased. At the same time, sales of OxyContin in the United States outpaced those of Viagra while more than 30,000 coupons for the addictive drug were used. And by 2011, the CDC had declared an opioid epidemic.  

That, however, did not stop production of other pain relievers. Fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, soon became a household name — though most people are unaware that they are even consuming fentanyl, until it’s far too late. Today, opioids account for 69% of drug overdose deaths, a rate that has doubled since 2010. And most synthetic opioids are far stronger and more dangerous than the drugs used ten years ago. That is why this has become an international crisis over the past two decades, one that has certainly affected our State.  

When I became Attorney General, I made the opioid epidemic a priority of my office. Knowing that roughly 60% of addicts start their addiction with someone else’s prescription, we set out to educate on the dangers of opioids and counterfeit drugs, then collaborated with law enforcement to provide drug take back boxes across our State. We also leveraged a legal settlement to provide our first responders with free vouchers for Naloxone. Then, we pushed Congress to repeal the shielding of manufacturers and distributors from accountability. 

My Consumer Protection Division also reached a settlement with the consulting firm who advised Purdue Pharma on how to maximize their profits by targeting high-volume prescribers, encouraging doctors to increase prescriptions, and circumventing pharmacy restrictions. When states began to sue Purdue, the firm advised deleting documents to hide the truth; yet in collaboration with 47 other states, we held them accountable.  

Furthermore, our office led negotiations alongside other attorneys general to reach an historic agreement with CVS and Walgreens for their role in this crisis, resulting in $10.7 billion in opioid relief funds to be paid over the next decade. Monies will be allocated to local governments and parishes and used to remediate this crisis, from prevention and harm reduction to treatment and recovery services.  

Unfortunately, after Purdue reformulated OxyContin to reduce drug abuse — namely by preventing abusers from snorting and injecting the ground up pill — addicts turned to heroin. This created a new market for drug cartels in Mexico, who have since abused our border crisis to further feed crime, drug addiction, and overdose deaths in our communities.  

This why my office has been relentless in fighting open border policies that benefit human traffickers and drug dealers. As Attorney General, I defended ICE, fought Sanctuary Cities, pushed for Title 42 to remain in place, and sued the Biden Administration in federal court to keep our asylum process fair rather than issue blank checks of citizenship to criminals. We also continue to call for the resignation of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has made a bad situation far worse.  

Sadly, none of that offers much comfort to those who have lost their loved ones to the opioid crisis. No law, policy, or lawsuit will ever bring their family members back from a fatal overdose. But what we can do is prevent someone else from succumbing to this horrible situation, and that is what I will continue to fight for as long as I remain in office. The great people of our State are not alone; and together, we will turn the tide. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Jeff Landry Receives Louisiana Sheriffs' Association Endorsement

Lafayette, La. — Today, Jeff Landry received the endorsement of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association (LSA) in his race for Governor of Louisiana. The LSA is a bipartisan organization, composed of Louisiana’s 64 sheriffs and nearly 14,000 deputy sheriffs, established to represent Louisiana’s chief law enforcement officers across the state.

 “Members of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association proudly stand with Jeff Landry because of his lifelong support of law enforcement. From his earliest years of experience as a sheriff’s deputy, to his consistent continued efforts to be tough on violent crime, sheriffs are honored to partner with him for a safer Louisiana,” said Sheriff Doug Hebert, President of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association.  

 “I am extremely humbled by the support of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association. The sheriffs and their employees are community heroes who put their lives on the line everyday to keep us safe. As a former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, I understand the difficulties faced by those in law enforcement and I will always stand by and support them.  As Governor, I look forward to working closely with our sheriffs to make Louisiana a safer state in which to live, work, and raise a family,” said Jeff Landry.   

An Appeal for Freedom of Thought

Our Big Tech Censorship Case at the Fifth Circuit

It may be hard to believe that there are people in their thirties and forties who can recall a time before the Internet. Yet in this small window of time, we have witnessed a complete evolution of communication online, especially when it comes to individuals with a certain level of experience or passionate curiosity transformed into action. That’s why, at the same time Yahoo!, eBay, Google, and PayPal were being created, we also saw the rise of the online freelancer, the blogger, the digital business owner, the social media community founder, and the thought leader. The glue holding this together has always been the freedom of ideas and their expression. 

Amazon outwitted Sears by creating a catalogue of products online; but it wasn’t books, supplements, or random life hack gadgets that made it a monolith of the digital sphere. It was the fact that Amazon’s algorithm favored highly niche interests, connecting shoppers with specific books, ideas, and tools they could never purchase at their local shop. That’s why brick and mortar businesses have struggled to compete: they lack infinite shelf-space and rely on mainstream hits. Not so with the Internet; the digital sphere favors the obscure and hard-to-find. However, it is precisely that ability to veer towards personal niche rather than mainstream opinion that has made the Internet a marketplace of thought. 

Even more appealing was the fact that you no longer needed to wait for the evening news to learn about major events. Chances are, someone was tweeting or live streaming in real time, having the advantage of already being on the scene. You no longer had to depend on pundits force feeding you analysis on current events within a limited scope — you had access to a sea of experts presenting their research online. And you no longer had to wait for someone to tell you how to think or what was important — you could figure it out for yourself. Simply by being curious, you could use the cellphone in your pocket to expand your knowledge, worldview, and perspective far better than any school, with an education personally tailored for and by you.

That is what the Biden Administration has deliberately tried to take away from you, claiming your mental capacity as their “cognitive infrastructure.” Through pervasive censorship efforts, they have attempted to destroy your freedoms of thought, learning, and speech enabled by the Internet. Biden’s bureaucrats have coerced, encouraged and even threatened social media companies to create more restrictive policies, enforce them more aggressively, silence entire topics, and deplatform certain speakers — all in the name of control. And the major social media companies reluctantly complied.  

The example given at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by my Special Assistant Attorney General John Sauer was this: Imagine if the White House press secretary stood at the podium and demanded that all major booksellers remove and burn books that criticized the Administration, or the federal government would destroy their business. And what if, at the same time, those booksellers were getting relentless emails from the FBI and White House staff with encrypted lists of books to be burned and constant pressure to get it done? That is exactly what happened here; but the bonfires were digital and unrestricted, scorching everything from parody to scientific findings that refuted a government narrative. 

This is why our case against the federal government is so very important, not just to the people of Louisiana or Missouri but to all Americans. Could you imagine if Thomas Paine or Thomas Jefferson had been censored? What about Paul Revere? (You can research and debunk that thanks to the Internet.) What is an American if not someone who believes freedom of speech and thought is their birthright? Aren’t Americans meant to be individualists? 

That is what’s at stake should the bureaucrats win this case, because it will determine what freedom of speech looks like in the digital age, who among us should have it — and why. Will we have a golden age of ideas and individualism envisioned by the early days of the Internet, or will we be dragged back into the narrow minded past because the bureaucratic elite couldn’t tolerate freedom of thought or the competition of ideas? 

The panel of judges at the Fifth Circuit will now decide this. However, the Constitution is clear, our evidence is damning, and we fully expect to win this battle in the end — because these are the challenges that define a Nation, not by how we struggle but in how we overcome.  

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Landry Launches Fourth TV Ad on Education

“My mother was a school teacher. She believed in teaching kids how to think, not what to think.  

 Today, too many classrooms are filled with woke politics instead of teaching.    

 We are going to fix that.    

 My plan gets us back to the basics: reading, writing, and math.  

 Parents not politicians deserve control.    

 Teachers should be respected.    

 These are our schools, our children, and they deserve the absolute best.”