Party News

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO LAUNCH “PURGE PROTECTION PROJECT” TO HELP DISENFRANCHISED LOUISIANA VOTERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO LAUNCH “PURGE PROTECTION PROJECT” TO HELP DISENFRANCHISED LOUISIANA VOTERS
Chair Gaines: “Louisiana isn’t as much of a red state as it is a non-voting state”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, on National Voter Registration Day, the Louisiana Democratic Party announced a new project with the Democratic National Committee to protect the voting rights of those Louisiana citizens who have recently been unfairly and unjustly purged from state voter rolls. 

Between now and the state voter registration deadline on October 15, the Louisiana Democratic Party will be leading a statewide effort to contact more than 13,000 inactive Democratic voters to notify them of their recent purge, encourage them to re-register, and provide important voting information for this fall’s election.

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines issued the following statement: 

“We are thrilled to partner with the Democratic National Committee’s Civic Engagement and Voter Protection Department to launch this exciting project. In order for us to truly promote fair and accessible elections, we must ensure Louisiana citizens’ right to vote is not infringed by those seeking to diminish their voices. Early voting is just one month away, and so we’ll be working around the clock to help every eligible voter exercise their right this fall.

“The lies that Governor Jeff Landry, Secretary of State Nancy Landry, and Attorney General Liz Murrill tell about outside hackers, foreign actors, and ‘illegal aliens’ casting votes in Louisiana just isn’t true — it’s yet another effort to suppress the vote, spread misinformation, and keep their friends in power. The new voter registration laws these Republican extremists have recently passed will only disenfranchise more voters and could be used to levy unfounded allegations of fraud. Authorities have never found evidence of widespread voter fraud in Louisiana. 

“Landry and his cohorts got elected by suppressing the vote, and now, he’s trying to distract you from paying attention while he attacks the foundations of our democracy. They know that when we vote, we win, and that’s why they’re trying to make it harder for you to do just that. 

“But we know Louisiana isn’t as much of a red state as it is a non-voting state — and this fall, the Louisiana Democratic Party will be working tirelessly to get our people out to vote. We won’t stand by while Governor Landry and Louisiana Republicans continue to chip away at our rights to make our voices heard. 

“If you need to register, or know someone who does — go to iwillvote.com today and let’s have a strong National Voter Registration Day!”

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LOUISIANA DEMOCRATS ENERGIZED & ACTIVATED OVER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS’ UNDENIABLE DEBATE WIN OVER DONALD TRUMP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATS ENERGIZED & ACTIVATED OVER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS’ UNDENIABLE DEBATE WIN OVER DONALD TRUMP
Chair Gaines: “The path to a better country runs through Louisiana”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Tonight, Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris decisively won the debate against convicted felon and insurrectionist Republican nominee Donald Trump – communicating a new way forward to the American people that protects our freedoms and ensures every person has the opportunity not to just get by, but to get ahead. 

She held Donald Trump accountable for his dangerous Project 2025 agenda that would roll back Americans’ rights and freedoms, hurt the middle class, and threaten our democracy.

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines issued the following statement: 

“Kamala Harris just stepped off the debate stage, where she wiped the floor with Donald Trump — and tonight, she showed Louisianans what a new way forward could look like. 

“As Vice President Harris commanded the stage on every issue that matters to the American people, Louisiana voters saw two visions for our state and country on the debate stage, and the contrast couldn’t be clearer: Trump barely articulated a coherent thought, much less a coherent vision for the American people – instead spewing lies, conspiracy theories, and talking about himself. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris spoke to us about how a Harris-Walz administration will fight for reproductive rights, lower the costs of healthcare and groceries, and make wealthy corporations and billionaires pay their fair share in taxes, all while cutting taxes for the middle class. 

“Vice President Harris decisively won tonight’s debate, and the Louisiana Democratic Party is ready to help her carry this momentum through November. We’re all in to ensure every neighborhood in Louisiana is buzzing with enthusiasm, help elect the first woman President, and deliver a blue Congress on Day One of her administration. The path to a better country runs through Louisiana.”

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HARRIS CAMPAIGN WEIGHS IN ON LOUISIANA REPUBLICANS’ CRIMINALIZATION OF LIFE-SAVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE MEDICATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

HARRIS CAMPAIGN WEIGHS IN ON LOUISIANA REPUBLICANS’ CRIMINALIZATION OF LIFE-SAVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE MEDICATION
“Louisiana is unfortunately now THE cautionary tale for the rest of the United States.”

BATON ROUGE, LA — On Tuesday, September 3, The Louisiana Illuminator published an article detailing their interviews with countless doctors across Louisiana worried about treating patients — and potentially saving lives — now that Governor Jeff Landry and House Republicans have passed a law criminalizing misoprostol, mifepristone, and other medications that treat women’s health needs. 

Misoprostol and mifepristone are prescribed for a number of medical scenarios — they are an essential part of reproductive healthcare that can be used during emergencies, as well as for miscarriage treatment, labor induction, stopping postpartum hemorrhage, and IUD insertion. But because they are also used for abortion, these drugs have been targeted by conservatives in Louisiana — an unprecedented move for a medication that routinely saves lives.

When the criminalization law, SB276 by State Senator Thomas Pressly, passed the Louisiana legislature in May, Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines said, “This action by extreme House Republicans is yet another example of their pursuit to take away reproductive freedoms for women in Louisiana. Thanks to Donald Trump, who proudly claims credit for ripping away women’s freedoms, women in Louisiana live in constant fear of losing even more rights. Already our state has one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country…and these actions are a harrowing preview of how much worse things could get under Governor Landry and the extreme GOP leadership. Criminalizing possession of these medications, which have a wide range of uses to protect women’s health, could further endanger the lives of Louisianians.”

And it has. As shown in the article, doctors and pharmacists are already scrambling to come up with postpartum hemorrhage policies that will comply with the law while still providing proper medical care for women, fearing that new mothers across the state will suffer.

Also yesterday, the Harris-Walz campaign weighed in on this critical issue, highlighting the “confusion and angst” over new Louisiana law, and placing the blame squarely on Donald Trump and those that push his policies, like the Project 2025 agenda. 

Harris-Walz 2024 Spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said, “Let’s be clear: Trump is the reason Louisiana women who are suffering from miscarriages or bleeding out after birth can no longer receive the critical care they would have received before Trump overturned Roe. Because of Trump, doctors are scrambling to find solutions to save their patients and are left at the whims of politicians who think they know better. Trump is proud of what he’s done. He brags about it. And if he wins, he will threaten to bring the crisis he created for Louisiana women to all 50 states.”

Shortly after, the Louisiana Democratic Party released a statement saying, “Thank you, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, for echoing the truth. The country is now getting a glimpse of what we’ve been dealing with under the Trumpian dangerous duo of Jeff Landry and Liz Murrill. Louisiana is unfortunately now THE cautionary tale for the rest of the United States.”

The new legislation empowers the state government to monitor every pregnant woman prescribed misoprostol and mifepristone, and people possessing abortion medication could be criminalized and jailed for years — including a woman’s friends and family members. The law goes into effect on October 1.

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LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON KAMALA HARRIS’ VP PICK MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON KAMALA HARRIS’ VP PICK MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ
Chair Gaines: We are “ready to fight strongly alongside a Harris-Walz ticket”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Following today’s news of Vice President Kamala Harris’ announcement that she has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the 2024 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee, Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines today issued the following statement:
 

“Already this morning, countless Louisianans are enthusiastically sounding their excitement and support for adding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to our 2024 Democratic ticket. 

“Like me, Tim Walz served our country for more than two decades as an Army National Guard leader, also working in disaster response postings, like I did during Hurricane Katrina. He is a former teacher, coach, and extremely accomplished congressman and governor. Our current Louisiana statewide elected officials could learn a lot from his steadfast governing, coalition building, and effective policies that greatly help working families, women, and children. 

“Some pundits claim that vice presidential picks don’t matter, but this year, it’s clear that it’s never mattered more against the threats Donald Trump and J.D. Vance pose to our democracy and our future. The Louisiana Democratic Party is ready to fight strongly alongside a Harris-Walz ticket this fall as we stand poised to make immense progress for our country and our state.”

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LOUISIANA DNC DELEGATION OVERWHELMING ENDORSES VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DNC DELEGATION OVERWHELMING ENDORSES VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS
Chair Gaines: “We look forward to a productive, energizing, historic convention”

BATON ROUGE, LA — This evening, the Louisiana delegation to the Democratic National Convention met virtually, and by an overwhelming majority vote, officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be our 2024 Democratic Presidential Nominee.

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines, who also chairs the Louisiana delegation to the convention, shared the following:
 
“We are grateful to President Joe Biden for his remarkable leadership, and we are committed to honoring his legacy by working tirelessly this fall to keep the White House in Democratic hands. I am proud to share that Louisiana’s Democratic delegates will join President Biden in endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as our nominee. It’s time we come together, and by throwing our full support behind her, we can beat Donald Trump again and continue Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishments and progress for our country. We look forward to a productive, energizing, and historic convention in which we nominate the first black woman as our Democratic nominee.”

The Democratic National Convention will occur from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois. Vice President Harris and any individual seeking the presidential nomination must qualify to receive votes from convention delegates. The Louisiana delegation joins President Joe Biden, Congressman Troy Carter, and other significant organizations and elected officials in endorsing Vice President Harris. 

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LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WITHDRAWING FROM 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WITHDRAWING FROM 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Chair Gaines: “We will honor his legacy by beating Trump this November”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Following today’s news of Joe Biden’s announcement that he will not seek re-election as President, Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines today issued the following statement: 

“I, and all Louisiana Democrats, would like to thank President Joe Biden for his remarkable leadership. After we win this year’s election, history will remember Joe Biden and his outstanding record of progress for our country, his dedication to American democracy, and as one of the greatest Presidents in the history of America.  

“We are confident that Joe Biden’s legacy will inspire his successor to preserve and continue to advance his transformative economic, international, and legislative accomplishments, and that he will employ his experience and vast knowledge to ensure that Vice President Kamala Harris will continue to deliver tremendous leadership for our great nation as our next president.

“Joe Biden’s choice to step aside and endorse Kamala Harris isn’t just a leadership change; it’s a bold statement of our party’s future direction. Kamala Harris is now at the forefront of our battle against the extreme right-wing agenda that threatens our democracy, our rights, and our values — and we will honor Joe Biden’s legacy, and the decision that he has made today, by throwing our full support behind her in beating Donald Trump again this November.

We will reunite, realign, and refocus as a party, and continue to advance forward, stronger and more determined than ever.”

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