Party News

DNC ANNOUNCES FIVE-FIGURE INVESTMENT IN LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR FINAL PUSH IN NOVEMBER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

DNC ANNOUNCES FIVE-FIGURE INVESTMENT IN LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR FINAL PUSH IN NOVEMBER

The $55,000 investment in Louisiana is part of historic investments from the DNC in all 57 states and territories this cycle to fund coordinated campaigns in the final stretch

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, the Democratic National Committee announced $55,000 in funding to the Louisiana Democratic Party, along with investments to dozens of states. This investment rounds out the DNC’s mission to deliver funding and resources to all 57 states and territories for the first time ever in a single cycle. 

The DNC is investing $55,000 for the Louisiana Democratic Party to expand its organizing program to help the state party engage with voters across the new 6th Congressional District, Louisiana’s new majority-Black Congressional district. This will be essential to increase turnout to build Democratic infrastructure in the district and the state as a whole. 

This infusion of GOTV funding for the Louisiana Democratic Party comes on top of a 25 percent increase in yearly state party investment from the DNC. Under Chair Harrison’s leadership, the DNC has delivered the largest-ever investment in state parties cycle-to-date as Democrats across the country continue to be energized and excited to send Vice President Harris and Governor Walz to the White House and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

Leveraging its record-breaking fundraising, the DNC is announcing an additional $2.5 million worth of investments in key states in the run-up to Election Day, the latest tranche of funding as part of the DNC’s historic multi-million dollar investment cycle-to-date for targeted resource deployment. These funds, allocated to both traditionally red and blue states, will help strengthen coordinated campaigns and boost Democratic wins in down-ballot races, like in Louisiana.

“The DNC is committed to electing Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, and ensuring Democrats have the resources to run competitive races across the map in red and blue states alike,” said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. “The investment we’re announcing today in the Louisiana Democratic Party shows these priorities in action. Louisiana Democrats will ensure working families can get ahead, while standing up to Trump and Republicans’ extreme agenda to rip away Americans’ most fundamental rights. With Vice President Harris at the helm and record-breaking investments in coordinated campaigns, the DNC and Democratic state parties across the country have the momentum to strengthen coordinated operations in the critical final stretch to November to deliver wins for Democrats and all Louisianians.”

“We are grateful to the DNC and Chair Jaime Harrison for investing in our state,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines. “Since taking office 5 months ago, the new Louisiana Democratic Party leadership and I have been working hard to rebuild relationships, demonstrate our political prowess and organizing, and show our national friends that we can be a reliable partner who is worthy of trust and impactful investments. Sizeable investments like these are clear indicators that what we’re doing is working. With this national support — and the help of all the Louisiana Democrats fired up for a Harris-Walz administration — we can flip the 6th Congressional District, secure Democrats’ chances of taking back the House, and make Mike Johnson the Speaker no more.”

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NATIONAL AND LOCAL DEMOCRATS SPEAK OUT AGAINST NEW LOUISIANA LAW CRIMINALIZING LIFE-SAVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE MEDICATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

NATIONAL AND LOCAL DEMOCRATS SPEAK OUT AGAINST NEW LOUISIANA LAW CRIMINALIZING
LIFE-SAVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE MEDICATION
Louisiana set to make history as first state to criminalize possession of misoprostol, mifepristone, and other
medications that treat women’s health needs

BATON ROUGE, LA — On Tuesday, October 1, Louisiana will make history as the first state to reclassify mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances, due to the passage of Republican-led Senate Bill 276 during the 2024 Legislative Session.

These safe medications, with no potential for abuse or dependence, are used for routine conditions, emergencies, and to prevent women from bleeding out after giving birth or having a miscarriage.  

Dr. Jennifer Avegno, ER physician and head of the New Orleans Health Department, says that for a hemorrhaging mother, “That drug is now going to be in some kind of locked cabinet, which means that likely a nurse or somebody will have to leave the bedside, run down the hall or wherever the locked cabinet is located, and do a series of steps to access the medication and bring it back… those extra minutes could mean life or death.”

It’s a stark reality that Louisiana has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. In Louisiana, four black mothers die for every white mother. Hemorrhaging, a condition that accounted for 17% of pregnancy-related maternal deaths from 2011-2016, is a serious concern.  Women with hypertension, who are at an increased risk of maternal death, can’t use one of the primary alternatives to these medications. 

More than 200 doctors sent a letter to legislators this past spring, urging them to reconsider the reclassification. Their advice was clear: This decision would be detrimental to women’s health. Yet, Republican politicians chose to disregard their expertise and the potential consequences. 

“This is not just a policy change, but a blatant disregard for the well-being of every person of childbearing age and those who care for them. The impact on women’s health cannot be overstated,” said Pamela Steeg, Co-Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party Women’s Caucus. “This is not a distant concern, but an urgent matter that demands our immediate attention.”

“Thanks to Donald Trump, who proudly claims credit for ripping away women’s freedoms, we 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 — which provides no exceptions for rape or incest and has created a dangerous and difficult environment for women seeking care,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines. “This new law is 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, will; further endanger the lives of Louisianians.”

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.”

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LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CHARLES BOUSTANY, JR. ENDORSING KAMALA HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CHARLES BOUSTANY, JR. ENDORSING KAMALA HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
Chair Gaines: “Let Boustany’s example be an invitation to all Louisianans”

BATON ROUGE, LA — A few days ago, more than 100 former national security officials from Republican administrations and former Republican members of Congress endorsed Vice President Harris in a letter published by The New York Times, declaring Trump “unfit to serve again as president.”

“We believe that Kamala Harris possesses the essential qualities to serve as President and Donald Trump does not,” the Republicans wrote in their letter. “As president, he promoted daily chaos in government, praised our enemies and undermined our allies, politicized the military and disparaged our veterans, prioritized his personal interest above American interests, and betrayed our values, democracy, and this country’s founding documents.”

Among the names who signed the letter was former Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr., who represented Louisiana’s 3rd and 7th Congressional Districts for six terms from 2005-2017. 

Boustany said he voted for Trump in 2016, but now regrets it. “I didn’t want to do it because I saw what he was back then,” said Boustany. “I saw what he would do to the Republican Party, and also had concerns about international relations. And of course, he got into office and that all played out.” Boustany voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

According to a recent article in NOLA.com, “Boustany has little hope for his longtime party, though — even if Trump loses. There’s tremendous pressure in Congress to stick with the home team, he said, recalling veiled threats on occasions when he didn’t. More than that, he sees the GOP as having steered too far from its core principles… These are among the reasons he recently changed his voter registration from Republican to independent.”

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines issued the following statement: 

“I applaud former Congressman Boustany for standing his ground and putting principles over party by supporting Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. It’s noble and rare these days for any Republican to speak out against the former President — but it’s the right thing to do for the future of our country and state.

“Boustany is right when he says the GOP has steered too far from their core values, and consequently, he’s changed his party registration. This is the story I hear from many of you who feel the Republican Party has left you. Every week, I hear from multiple Louisianans across this state who are realizing that the party who actually represents their values, fights for their needs, and cares about their livelihoods is the Democratic Party.

“Let Boustany’s example be an invitation to all Louisianans — there is a place for you in the Louisiana Democratic Party, and we would love you to join our efforts to stand up and fight back against the extremist Republicans seeking to keep you down. Our state deserves it.”  

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Louisiana Democratic Party Launches “Do Something” Get Out the Vote Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY LAUNCHES “DO SOMETHING” GET OUT THE VOTE INITIATIVE
Statewide effort to engage voters through volunteering, social media, events, and more

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, the Louisiana Democratic Party will launch their new “Do Something Louisiana” initiative to help get out the vote for this fall’s elections, from the historic national presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, down to many of the other critical contested races here in Louisiana this year.

Inspired by the encouraging words of national Democratic leaders like former First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris, the state party will galvanize Louisiana voters to “Do Something” to help win this year’s elections by volunteering for Democratic campaigns, phone banking, writing postcards, engaging their networks on social media, hosting events, notifying purged voters, and more.

“At this year’s Democratic National Convention, we were inspired by our leaders echoing the wise words of Kamala Harris’ mother: ‘Don’t just sit around and complain. Do something.’ And that’s exactly what we’re asking Louisiana voters to do this fall,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Drew Prestridge. “The state party will have many opportunities to volunteer for the Harris Walz campaign, as well as for our endorsed Democratic candidates, including Mel Manuel (Cong. Dist. 1), Rep. Troy Carter (Cong. Dist. 2), Sadi Summerlin (Cong. Dist. 3), Sen. Cleo Fields (Cong. Dist. 6), and Nick Laborde (Public Service Commission Dist. 2.) We are ready to engage voters, raise the resources it takes to win, and Do Something for Louisianans across this state who deserve and need policy-makers who actually serve and work for them.”

“If you’re sick of Jeff Landry, if you’re tired of low voter turnout, and if you want to give Kamala Harris a Congress she can work with — then it’s time to Do Something,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines. “Michelle Obama said it best: ‘We don’t get to change the rules so we always win. If we see a mountain in front of us, we don’t expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top. We put our heads down, we get to work, and we do something.’ The Louisiana Democratic Party is prepared to get out the vote, support our endorsed candidates best we can, and help give Kamala Harris a Congress she can work with from Day One. Join us!”

Visit LouisianaDems.org or follow the Louisiana Democratic Party on Facebook, Instagram, or X today to Do Something, Louisiana!

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LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENCOURAGES SEN. JOHN KENNEDY TO HIDE FOLLOWING XENOPHOBIC, DEGRADING COMMENTS TO ARAB-AMERICAN FEMALE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENCOURAGES SEN. JOHN KENNEDY TO HIDE FOLLOWING XENOPHOBIC, DEGRADING COMMENTS TO ARAB-AMERICAN FEMALE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER
Chair Gaines: “Absolutely shameful… Louisiana deserves better” 

BATON ROUGE, LA — Yesterday, Republican Sen. John Kennedy made a fool of himself in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on hate crimes when he repeatedly badgered a leading Arab-American civil rights activist and told her she should “hide her head in a bag.”

The activist, Maya Berry of the Arab American Institute, repeatedly denounced any support for Hamas, Hezbollah, or any type of organization promoting violence and conflict in the Middle East, contrary to Kennedy’s claims — instead, pointing out that the fact that Kennedy’s line of questioning perfectly illustrated the need for the very hate crime hearing in which they both were present.

“Senator, oddly enough, I’m going to say thank you for that question, because it demonstrates the purpose of our hearing today in a very effective way. Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization that I do not support, but you asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute that question very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in our country. It’s regrettable that I, as I sit here, have experienced the very issue that we’re attempting to deal with today,” Berry said.

Instead of actually listening to Berry’s detailed and thoughtful responses, Kennedy baselessly pestered and chastised her for supporting violent terrorist organizations that she had repeatedly denounced, finally yelling at her, “You should hide your head in a bag.”

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines issued the following statement: 

“It is absolutely shameful that a United States Senator told a civil rights leader to ‘hide her head in a bag.’ If there’s anyone that should be hiding after making these kinds of comments and behavior, it’s Sen. Kennedy.

“Unfortunately, this kind of hateful, barbaric, degrading rhetoric is nothing new from the Republican party — just look no further than their presidential candidate, who regularly spews this kind of xenophobic language every day to the detriment of our democracy. Sen. Kennedy is one of the main offenders when it comes to replicating and amplifying Trump’s bigotry.

“Louisiana deserves better than to be represented by someone who so casually exhibits narrow-minded, insensitive behavior. It’s embarrassing. Sen. Kennedy’s comments aren’t in the best interest of trying to solve the crises in the Middle East, nor are they in the best interest of Louisianans all across this state who need him to be working for them. Trust us, we’ll remember this when he’s on the ballot in 2028.” 

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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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