With U.S. Sen. David Vitter expected to not seek re-election in 2016, there has been rush of names thrown around ahead of the turn of the year as politicos try to outmaneuver each other before the race begins in earnest.
The latest development comes from state Rep. Paul Hollis, who says he is thinking about running and will make a decision early next year. Hollis, a Covington Republican who was re-elected to another term in the Louisiana Legislature this fall, says he has received an outpouring of encouragement from neighbors and friends.
Hollis also considered running for the U.S. Senate last year.
“With the growing threat of ISIS abroad and at home, lackluster economic growth, and continued issues with Obamacare and other failed big government programs, we need a proven conservative as our next U.S. senator who won’t back down, won’t make excuses, and won’t cave in under pressure,” Hollis says in a prepared statement.
U.S. Rep. John Fleming officially announced his intention via a web video Monday to run and has already been endorsed by the Citizens United Political Victory Fund, the affiliated PAC of Citizens United, on Tuesday morning.
Calling himself a “passionate conservative,” Fleming, a Republican from Minden, is already staking out a position to the far right with criticisms of President Barack Obama and the GOP establishment.
“But there is more blame to go around,” Fleming says in his announcement video. “We have too many in Washington who are all too willing to just go along with the status quo and not make any waves.”
Retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness, who ran third in the U.S. Senate race in 2014, filed his statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission last week. Also expected to formally announce his bid soon is Republican Congressman Charles Boustany of Lafayette. He has already staffed up for the race and has told donors he intends to run. Said to be looking at the possibility as well are Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, who lost his campaign for governor this year; and state Treasurer John Kennedy. All are Republicans.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who has been leading the speculation on the Democratic side of the developing field, told LaPolitics last week that he would not be a candidate. Caroline Fayard, another Democrat from New Orleans who ran for lieutenant governor in 2010, is making the usual rounds, though, and looks to be an early contender.
—Jeremy Alford
