A Black Republican former state senator has entered the campaign for Louisiana's new majority minority 6th Congressional District that stretches from Baton Rouge to Acadiana to Alexandria to Shreveport with boundaries drawn to favor Democrats.
Former state legislator Elbert Guillory of St. Landry Parish, a familier face in the new 6th District boundaries, said he's running to preserve the Republicans' majority in Congress and Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson's powerful position as House Speaker.
"The balance of power in the House and Louisiana's unmatched influence there are at stake," said Guillory, 80, who service in both the state House and Senate and has run unsuccessful previous campaigns for Congress and lieutenant governor.
Guillory joins early front-runner Democratic state Sen. Cleo Fields in the race. Incumbent Republican 6th District Congressman Garret Graves said he won't seek reelection after the boundaries were radically altered to create a second majority Black district among the state's six House seats.
Guillory said his deep connections within the district - serving in the Legislature in Baton Rouge, living in Acadiana, pastoring a church in Alexandria and previously campaigning in Shreveport - give him an advantage over other challengers.
"I have already established name recognition through serving and walking the streets and shaking hands," said Guillory, an attorney.
Guillory said if elected he will work to curb federal spending and support policies that close the U.S. southern border.
"This wild federal spending has created out-of-control inflation that is Bidenomics and families are struggling to make ends meet," he said. "And of course we have to stop the invasion of our southern border. Government is not protecting our people.
"The choice in this race will be so clear for voters."
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
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