For an election cycle that’s expected to be bland, last week’s qualifying process opened up an impressive spread of statewide, regional and multi-parish positions—68 total, not including local-level posts, writes Jeremy Alford in his latest column.
“If you missed the action on these major races, either intentionally or accidentally, here are five trends and takeaways from this most recent qualifying period for our 2018 election cycle,” he writes, launching into a list.
At the top of Alford’s list is the apathy spreading across the state.
“One-third (33.8%) of the statewide, regional and multi-parish offices that were slated for the Nov. 6 ballot drew just one candidate each,” Alford writes. “That means they’re in line to be decided without an official vote of the people.” The politicos who scored easy victories last week probably don’t mind, he adds. But voters should.
Next on Alford’s list is that unlike the aforementioned offices every member of Louisiana’s U.S. House delegation faces at least one opponent in the upcoming election.
The Secretary of State race still tops the ballot, Alford writes, because it is the only open statewide position.
“To be certain, it made the biggest splash during the qualifying period last week,” Alford says. “As the final moments ticked by, interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin unexpectedly qualified for the race after telling reporters and lawmakers he would do no such thing.”
If you believe the chatter from the Capitol class, Rep. Julie Stokes of Kenner is the early favorite, Alford writes, with her cancer-beating story of personal triumph, a war chest holding more than $184,000 and a base that’s flowering out of the voter-rich region in and around Jefferson Parish.
Others signed their names to state documents as well, including Turkey Creek Mayor Heather Cloud; former Sen. A.G. Crowe; Rep. Rick Edmonds; and Reneé Free, who’s on leave as the attorney general’s public protection director.
The primary elections are scheduled for Nov. 6, with runoffs as needed Dec. 8.
Read Alford’s column to get the full list of lessons learned during last week’s qualifying process.
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
