Thread by @jacksonvoss

The Louisiana Democratic Party does not appear to have recruited very many candidates for this year’s #lalege elections, but seems they did take the time to find an opponent for @votelandry, one of only a few truly progressive Democrats in office here

… and you know they really worked every possible angle, since it appears the person who will be that favored candidate was a Republican (or, at least voting in the Republican primary) when she lived in Ohio

now, she was probably a kid when she registered as a Republican for the 2014 Ohio primaries (she appears to have moved down here for undergrad at Loyola later that year), we live and we learn - but being from Ohio? unforgivable

geaux blue

to clarify in case this is confusing, Ohio only makes you register with a party when you’re voting in a particular primary, so this shows she voted in: the 2014 OH Republican Primary; 2014 general election; and the 2016 general (must’ve skipped the primary that year)

O’Malley probably does have different politics now, and I’m not interested in disparaging her, but her stated rational for running has been variations of “we need a real Democrat to run” and I do take issue with that, given the context surrounding this race

let whoever among us that has never had to change party registrations cast the first stone (me), but in my view, there is no way someone can run in good faith against Mandie Landry on the basis that she’s not progressive enough, or that she fails to uphold Democratic values

especially when those claims are specifically being made in response to Rep. Landry very briefly changing her registration from “Democrat” to “No Party,” to protest how the state party has chosen to weigh in on Dem vs. Dem races these last couple years

which is why it’s at least a little suspect that someone who is not from here, used to vote for Republicans in Ohio, and whose fiancé operates a pretty big dollar PAC that sends the party pretty serious money, has chosen to run against Rep. Landry

https://twitter.com/ag_landry/status/1661906668131688448

none of those things are disqualifying, btw, in my mind - it’s okay to not be from here and your right as a resident run for office; it’s often good, actually, to change your views over time; and imo, having money isn’t a dealbreaker if you’re willing to govern the right way

but it is widely believed this run is being encouraged by Katie Bernhardt (don’t stare directly into the CGI clay pigeon) - the Louisiana Democratic Party Chair who you may recall was not-so-discretely touting herself a potential gubernatorial candidate a few months ago

and hard to blame anyone for suspecting that - I also find it frustrating how much money and time the Louisiana Democratic Party leadership spends elevating friends and punishing “enemies” in safe seats rather than challenging the LAGOP or forming a coherent opposition

but maybe that isn’t the case. maybe O’Malley actually thinks Landry deserves a challenge and is sincerely campaigning on what she’s said so far.

if that’s the case, I think it’s worth completing the comparison between the two as candidates

is this is a challenge based on qualifications?

O’Malley claims “legal training,” but best I can tell, that’s just referring to a college internship with the Orleans Public Defender Office - but Landry is a practicing attorney and has been for many years

is this campaign about who is more loyal to the party?

Landry notably left the party in protest for a couple months, but as my previous screenshots cover, O’Malley hasn’t always been a Democrat either

is this a race about who is more effective?

Landry has had at least one piece of legislation signed into law each year she’s been in the legislature, and ~five~ last year alone (2022 - Act 202, Act 442, Act 472, Act 651, Act 524; 2021 - Act 470; 2020 - Act 140)…

… while O’Malley was inspired by Hurricane Ida to start a company that presumably charges people money to adjudicate insurance claim disputes on their behalf?

anyway, do what you will with this information - but I for one think it’s worth pointing out the inconsistencies in O’Malley’s story and reasons for running, and to understand that the criticisms being laid at Landry’s feet ring a bit hollow, at best

happy tuesday