Like he did during last year’s special election for state treasurer, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy is picking sides in the special election for secretary of state—by endorsing no one in particular and critiquing one person specifically. At the same time, the developing race has picked up a second announced contender, Attorney General Public Protection Director Reneé Free, who confirmed her candidacy to LaPolitics last week. The first announced candidate was Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, who is facing the electoral heat being cast by Kennedy again. Kennedy had an anybody-but-Julie approach to last year’s cycle, due to her tax votes and her support of former Congressman Charles Boustany’s 2016 bid against the now-junior senator. Kennedy is back on the attack as Stokes builds up her frontrunner status with $184,000 in cash on hand and vote-rich Jefferson Parish as her base of support. “Kennedy is on Moon Griffon right now suggesting that Julie Stokes go ahead and switch parties and be a Democrat,” Hayride publisher Scott McKay wrote on Facebook recently. Free, meanwhile, is ready to mix it up as well. “I’m not interested in running,” the Democrat said, “I am running.” She served under four attorneys general and three secretaries of state, and was instrumental in the consolidation of the latter office with the now-defunct Elections Department.
—Some legislators are close to officiating their place in line, too. Rep. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, for one, has been meeting with large donors to map out a plan. “I’ve had a lot of meetings in the last couple of weeks,” Edmonds said. He intends to run for re-election to the House, “unless something changes.” Rep. Paul Hollis, R-Mandeville, said he is leaning against seeking a third term in the House and is “very serious” about running for secretary of state. He recently had a sit-down with Kennedy about the topic while the senator was home for recess. Hollis wouldn’t divulge further specifics. At one time rumored to be a candidate but now out of the running for the SOS special election is Mary Leach Werner, a member of the LSU Board of Supervisors. She is dedicating her “time and energy” this year to her board gig. As for 2019, when there will be regular elections for secretary of state and lieutenant governor, both of which she’s being encouraged to pursue, Werner said she’s interested. Other potentials include Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia; Speaker Pro Tem Walt Leger, D-New Orleans; Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs; Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe; Sen. Gary Smith, D-Norco; Sen. Gerald Long, R-Winnfield; Democratic Lake Charles attorney Michael McHale; former GOP Sen. A.G. Crowe; and former Jefferson Parish President John Young, a Republican.
They Said It: “Hey, you know what you never forget? You never forget your seventh special session of the term.”—Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, shortly after the governor announced he would be calling legislators back to Baton Rouge, which he followed up with “I think we’re all smart people in here—for the most part.”
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.
