Three Democrats have signed up seeking to replace outgoing U.S Representative Cedric Richmond as the state’s 2nd District Congressman. The election is March 20th. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter found it significant that he qualified on the same day as a new president was sworn in.
“Now that’s not republican or democrat, that’s just the possibility of hope, that’s the possibility of change and the possibility of being better.”
Carter previously served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, the New Orleans City Council and he’s currently a state senator. His main opponent will be New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson. The former chairperson of the Louisiana Democratic Party has served in the state legislature since 1999.
“It’s important to have someone that has relationships, who knows how to get the job done, who has experience.”
Carter says during his time in the legislature and away from public office he’s worked to change lives.
“Whether it’s minimum wage, equal pay or fighting for the opportunity for women affected by breast cancer to have reconstructive surgery and have insurance pay for it.”
Both legislators have fought to raise the minimum wage and pushed to pass equal pay legislation at the state capitol. Peterson plans to take that fight up to Washington.
“We have to increase the minimum wage so fifteen dollars is certainly what’s a starting point and I want to be able to go to Washington and fight for that, I’ve done it before.”
Baton Rouge community activist and small business owner Gary Chambers junior has also qualified for the race. Chambers says not being a career politician will benefit him.
“I think that the people want something different, our state is ranked fifty in the nation so anybody saying we’re doing a good job isn’t being honest.”
Chambers says he supports Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
“We need the jobs of the future to come to the state of Louisiana to make sure people have jobs for the next 100 years the way the oil and gas has dropped for the last 100 years.”
Mindy McConnell, a Libertarian from New Orleans, also qualified today. She says the two major parties have torn the country apart and voters need another option.
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