Party News

Donald Trump found guilty of all 34 charges in hush money trial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON DONALD TRUMP’S CONVICTION
Chair Gaines: Party is “hard at work doing our part to defeat Trump”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Following Thursday’s news surrounding the jury verdict of Donald Trump’s hush money trial, Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines today issued the following statement: 

“Trump’s guilty verdicts on all 34 felony counts by jurors in New York State Court demonstrate that no one person, regardless of status or former elected position, is above the requirements of obeying the law. 

The untenable, unjustifiable, and unreasonable defenses that have been offered by Trump’s supporters further denote that his MAGA republican base has not only completely lost their moral compass in pursuit of political power, they are willing to compromise and forego the rule of law. 

The only way to defeat Trump is at the ballot box. Louisiana Democrats are hard at work doing our part to ensure Trump never returns to office again.”

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Senator Cleo Fields, who heads the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, described HB800 as essentially dead.

“HB800 will not be heard in this session of the Legislature,” Fields said in an interview with WBRZ after his panel met Tuesday. “We are going to have another meeting tomorrow but I don’t intend to put it on the agenda and I don’t intend to put it on the agenda for the rest of this session. There may be some other moves that may be made before the session is over with, but as far as 800, that bill will not be heard this session.”

The full article can be found at: https://www.wbrz.com/…/sen-cleo-fields-says-house-bill…/

Louisiana Democratic Party is pleased to announce the hiring of Drew Prestridge as the new Interim Executive Director!

Today, the Louisiana Democratic Party is pleased to announce the hiring of Drew Prestridge as the new Interim Executive Director! Prestridge was recommended by Chair Gaines and approved with no objections by the newly-elected members of the party’s Executive Committee. Prestridge will lead the party through the current leadership transition and the upcoming November 2024 elections.

A native of Lafayette, Prestridge rejoins the LDP after having served as the party’s Finance Director during former Governor John Bel Edwards’ historic gubernatorial win in 2015. Prestridge is a skilled fundraiser and campaign expert, having spent the last 14 years helping several Democratic campaigns and candidates in Louisiana and across the country.

“Drew Prestridge brings the experience, knowledge, and work ethic our state party needs to rebuild and grow,” said Gaines. “I have a great deal of confidence in Drew to unify the party, set us up for success, and secure big wins for Democrats this fall.”

State Democratic chair: Louisiana citizens must rise up against extremist policies

View the article here or read it:

US Supreme Court Orders Louisiana to Use Congressional Map with Additional Black District in 2024 Vote

Today, the Supreme Court ordered the state of Louisiana to hold this year’s congressional elections using the new House district map with two majority-black districts.

This comes despite a recent federal court ruling calling the map unconstitutional.

Now, it is certain that this year’s election will be held using the new map with districts which more fairly represents Louisiana’s racial demographics.

Randal Gaines Elected Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2023

CONTACT
gaines4louisiana@gmail.com

RANDAL GAINES ELECTED CHAIR OF LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Former State Rep. Gaines Energized to Rebuild Democratic Party

BATON ROUGE – Today, former three-term State Representative Randal L. Gaines was elected as the Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party. State party officials voted overwhelmingly to close the nominations after his sole nomination, and support his campaign mission to bring new, experienced leadership focused full-time on building grassroots capacity and resources to engage voters, develop leaders, and win elections at all levels.

“It is a new day for Democrats in Louisiana. I am energized and ready to get to work alongside our new state party to ensure that Louisiana Democrats have a strong, functional Big Tent party that is a resource to all Democrats in every part of the state,” said Chairman-elect Gaines. “It is critical that we use this unifying, watershed moment to rebuild, refocus, and recruit the leaders of tomorrow to address the concerns that are top of mind for residents in every corner of our state. Through grassroots organizing and continuous voter engagement and mobilization, we will remind Louisianans that the Democratic Party is the party that will fight for them. We have the people, message, and plan to be set up for electoral success in 2024 and beyond. Let’s get to work.”

Randal L. Gaines was elected three times to serve as State Representative for Louisiana’s 57th House District, which spans St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes. Term-limited, Gaines concluded his House service in 2023. First elected in 2011, he served as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a Democratic Whip, and was on the House Select Leadership Committee, Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, the Acadiana Delegation, and the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus.

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