Republicans claimed triumph in all three statewide races during the election held on Saturday, November 18, signaling a significant shift in Louisiana’s political landscape.
WAFB Political Analyst Jim Engster foresaw the Republican victories, projecting the winners shortly before 9 p.m. on Saturday. The outcomes mark historic milestones for the state, with the election of Louisiana’s first-ever female Attorney General and Secretary of State.
**Liz Baker Murrill Makes History as Louisiana’s First Female Attorney General**
Republican Liz Baker Murrill emerged victorious in the race for Louisiana Attorney General, defeating Democrat Lindsey Cheek. Murrill’s win establishes her as the state’s inaugural female Attorney General, breaking gender barriers in this crucial role.
Murrill’s momentum was evident in the primary last month, where she secured 45 percent of the vote among five candidates. Currently serving as the solicitor general in the Attorney General’s Office, Murrill aligns with conservative values, echoing her predecessor Attorney General Jeff Landry. She notably spearheaded a lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s administration challenging the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors, emphasizing a tough-on-crime approach in her campaign.
With her victory, Murrill is poised to succeed Landry, who recently secured the gubernatorial race.
**Nancy Landry Becomes Louisiana’s First Female Secretary of State**
In the race for Louisiana Secretary of State, Republican Nancy Landry triumphed over Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup. Landry, currently the First Assistant in the Secretary of State’s Office, secures her place as Louisiana’s first elected female Secretary of State.
Both Landry and Collins-Greenup qualified in a competitive runoff following October’s multiparty “jungle” primary, each earning 19 percent of the vote. Notably, this election marks the end of the tenure of the incumbent Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, who did not seek re-election.
Landry, a former state representative from Lafayette, brings four years of experience in Ardoin’s office to her new role. Collins-Greenup, an attorney from Baton Rouge, previously advanced to a runoff in 2019 against Ardoin but faced defeat.
Alice Lee Grosjean, appointed in 1930 by then-Gov. Huey P. Long, was the first woman to hold the position of Secretary of State, succeeding the late James Bailey.
John Fleming Secures Treasurer Position in Louisiana
In the race for Louisiana Treasurer, Republican John Fleming emerged victorious over Democrat Dustin Granger. A conservative former congressman and member of the Trump Administration, Fleming adds another Republican win to the state’s roster.
All three triumphant candidates, Murrill, Landry, and Fleming, are set to assume their respective offices in January, marking the commencement of their transformative roles in shaping Louisiana’s political landscape.
