Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden is promising to be accessible to constituents living in the 2nd Congressional District, something he accuses incumbent U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond of not doing.
Holden announced this morning his candidacy for the 2nd Congressional District House of Representatives seat in the fall. Richmond, D-New Orleans, currently holds the seat.
“This fall, you will have a choice, a candidate and a proven record of achievement,” he said.
The three-term mayor of Baton Rouge said he has already started making the rounds in the district to drum up support and says he has lengthy relationships with many peers in the surrounding parishes.
“I can’t tell you the number of elected officials who have said, ‘I’ve never met the man,’” Holden said of Richmond.
That’s a tactic Joshua Stockley, a University of Louisiana at Monroe assistant professor of political science, said Holden needs to continue to play up throughout the election season if he wants to win.
“Now the big question is, is that enough of an issue for the voters?” Stockley mused. “Is there an untapped groundswell that exists in the 2nd District yearning for a representative that’s more accessible?”
The 2nd Congressional District stretches from New Orleans through the River Parishes and into parts of Gonzales, St. Gabriel, Brusly and Baton Rouge.
Stockley said that because both candidates are Democrats the battle could come down to geography—Baton Rouge versus New Orleans.
“This will be a long-standing political factions rivalry,” he said.
Pearson Cross, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette associate professor of political science, agreed with Stockley, adding that questions about Richmond could resonate with voters if they have never seen the congressman in the district.
“That line of attack is a great line of attack if he can make it stick,” Cross said.
In a statement, Richmond’s campaign said the congressman and his representatives are known for their accessibility.
“He is confident the endorsements he will receive throughout the campaign will confirm that,” the statement said.
Another factor in the election will be Holden’s ability to raise more money than he did in his failed lieutenant governor’s run, Cross said. That’s something Holden has acknowledged he needs to do.
Holden already is touting his accomplishments during his 12 years in office. Those include the international partnerships he has cultivated in Europe and Asia, lists that Baton Rouge has topped during his tenure and businesses that he recruited to Capital City.
“You don’t achieve these results just by luck anymore,” he said of the top rankings, later adding that he’ll sell Louisiana as a great place to do business.
—Ryan Broussard
