The Secretary of State’s race on the Saturday ballot sees a run-off rematch of incumbent Republican Kyle Ardoin and Democratic challenger Gwen Collins-Greenup.
Ardoin won the contest last year 59-41 after escaping a packed primary full of Republican contenders. Ardoin says his experience makes him the best candidate for the job.
“We’ve got a great team in place, and there is no on the job training necessary for me or my administration, and I think that is what is important moving into 2020, a Presidential election year,” says Ardoin.
Ardoin initially took over the position in an interim capacity in 2018 after his predecessor, Tom Schedler, resigned in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal.
The incumbent was endorsed by President Trump last week at a rally in Monroe. He says he has a good relationship with the Commander in Chief.
“It was really exciting to have a chance to visit with him about election security issues and other things,” says Ardoin.
Clinton Democrat Collins-Greenup surprised election watchers last year by beating the party’s endorsed candidate in the primary. She says her number one priority if elected is simple.
“One of the primary concerns of my campaign is increasing voter turnout across Louisiana because that is one of the ways that we make positive change in our communities and participate in our government,” says Collins-Greenup.
Collins-Greenup is a Southern law grad and has worked in various state agencies, including the East Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court.
The Democrat has some criticisms of Ardoin’s tenure, pointing to national reporting from Politico and other sites that raised concerns about Louisiana’s outdated voting machines.
“We haven’t gotten new voting machines yet, currently Louisiana’s election systems are vulnerable, there are several reports of that, and people are just concerned about the overall election process,” says Collins-Greenup.
The Secretary of State runs Louisiana’s elections but also is responsible for helping businesses file the paperwork necessary to get off the ground.
