GOP Endorses City of Central Senator Rick Edmonds for Congress from 5th

The sprawling 5th Congressional District of Louisiana goes from the eastern portion of the City of St. George, up to the City of Central, east across the Florida Parishes and then up to Northeast Louisiana.  It is a vast area larger that several states.  It varies from wealthy suburbs to small towns to farm country and the poverty-stricken Mississippi River Delta.

Yet, the area is overwhelmingly conservative, and it votes Republican in national elections.

A crowded field of seven Republican candidates is competing in the May 16 Republican primary and a likely June 27 runoff. Although the general election will be Nov. 3, the Republican nomination will be tantamount to election.

The largest parish Republican Party is in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the party has a vigorous endorsement process. It includes inviting the candidates to speak at the Ronald Reagan Newsmaker Luncheon, answer a detailed list of more than 100 policy questions, and appear before the party’s 17-member Executive Committee to answer probing questions about their background, philosophy, and voting record. Then, in a secret ballot, a candidate must receive the vote of a majority of the members of the executive committee.  

As a result of this process, Sen. Rick Edmonds of St. George won the endorsement of the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish.

In its endorsement statement, the party said, “Sen. Edmonds answered all of our questions very satisfactorily. In fact, we would rate his philosophy as 100 percent conservative.  Combined with his staunchly conservative voting record, his high character, and the fact that he is a long-time resident of East Baton Rouge Parish, he is ideally suited to represent our parish in Congress.”

“The Republican Party fully supports Sen. Rick Edmonds for election to Congress from the 5th District.”