Miguez jumps into 6th District race, but Trump endorsement uncertain

Republican state Sen. Blake Miguez of New Iberia ended weeks of speculation regarding if and where he would run for Congress when he qualified Friday to run in the Baton Rouge-area 6th District. 

Miguez, who represents an Acadiana-based district in the Louisiana Senate, previously qualified to run in the Northeast Louisiana-based 5th District before Gov. Jeff Landry suspended the U.S. House party primaries in May and the legislature redrew their boundaries following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais. 

In February, President Donald Trump had endorsed Miguez’s bid for Congress when the legislator was running in the 5th District but it’s not clear whether the president still stands by that decision, especially now that Miguez has become a candidate in a different district. 

Other Republican state lawmakers running for the 5th and 6th District seats said this week they were also courting Trump’s approval and in talks with White House staff for the president’s backing.

Candidate residency is likely to be a central point in the race. 

Miguez touted his Baton Rouge connections in remarks to reporters after signing up to run, including attending LSU for his bachelor’s degree, and opening a business in the city. Miguez also said he received his law degree in Baton Rouge, though he didn’t mention it was from Southern University, a historically Black university also in the 6th District. 

Miguez said he has lived in both Baton Rouge, where he bought a home this past spring, and New Iberia his entire adult life. 

Ten candidates qualified for the 6th District race, but the showdown is likely between Miguez and state Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, who signed up for the race Wednesday. Like Miguez, Edmonds was originally a 5th District candidate before the May elections were called off, and the ensuing redistricting process moved both of their Baton Rouge addresses from the 5th to the 6th District.

Edmonds issued a pointed statement shortly after Miguez qualified again Friday.

“I’m glad Blake finally decided which district he’d run in,” Edmonds said. “He and his out-of-state supporters have been panicked since losing President Trump’s endorsement. He’s not from here, he can’t vote here, and he doesn’t understand the issues facing our communities.” 

Miguez pre-empted Edmonds’ shot, alleging just minutes before that Edmonds lives in Mississippi, where he is senior pastor at First Baptist Church of McComb. 

“I hope that if he were elected, you would actually move to Louisiana,” Miguez said. 

Miguez also called out Edmonds for launching his campaign with negative comments. 

“That pastor has to go back to Mississippi this weekend and preach to his congregation, and he’s going to have to face them,” Miguez said. “I hope he’ll repent and he’ll come back with a more positive attitude next week.” 

“I am proud to pastor a church in McComb, and I drive there and back every Sunday,” Edmonds said in response. “I live in the Sixth District, I serve in the Sixth District, and this is my home. I do not own property or live in Mississippi.” 

Former East Baton Rouge metro councilwoman Chauna Banks, a Democrat, also qualified Friday to run in the 6th District. 

In the Northeast Louisiana-based 5th District, Louisiana Board of Regents Chairwoman Misti Cordell of Monroe jumped into the race Friday. She’s a close ally of the governor with longtime Landry consultant Brent Littlefield as a campaign adviser.

Cordell will compete against five other Republicans, including state Sen. Stewart Cathey of Monroe, Rep. Mike Echols of Monroe and Rep. Gabe Firment of Pollock. Three Democrats are running, including Monroe state Rep. Patricia Moore and Antonio Wilson of Tallulah, who both joined the race Friday. 

Moore said she did not plan to run for Congress until she was approached by several individuals who she did not name. 

Other candidates qualifying Friday included U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who is seeking a 10th term in office, and no-party candidate E. “Liddy” Glass of Metairie, who is seeking to unseat him.

Libertarian Lisa Ballay, no-party candidate Renada Collins, both of New Orleans, and Republican Peter Williams of Baton Rouge joined the 2nd District field Friday to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans. 

Democrat John Day, Republican Kate Cotten, both of Lake Charles, and unaffiliated Tia LeBrun of Sulphur  joined other challengers to U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, in the 3rd District. 

Democrat Matt Gromlich of Greenwood and Republican Gordon Heslop also jumped into the 4th District race against U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton. 

Heslop ran for and lost the Republican nomination in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District earlier this year. He presented a Missouri-issued photo ID but claimed residence in Natchitoches. 

A complete list of all candidates who qualified this week for the Nov. 3 election, including congressional, state and local races, is available at the Secretary of State’s website.