Sen John Kennedy (R)
With qualifying for fall federal mid-term elections starting next week, incumbent Senator John Kennedy easily leads in fundraising. Kennedy reports raising another $5.6-million in the 2nd Quarter, and has almost $16-million cash-on-hand for his campaign. U.L.-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says this comes as no surprise.
“He is a Republican senator in a very red state, so I would have expected him to collect a lot more money than his Democratic challengers…and we’re seeing that expectation,” Stockley says.
Stockley says a lot can happen between now and November, but he says Kennedy has a distinct advantage. So far, Democrat challengers are Baton Rouge activist and blogger Gary Chambers, Rapides Parish airline pilot Luke Mixon and New Orleans area non-profit director Syrita Steib. They have raised only a little over $2-million between the three. Stockley says fundraising is tough when running against a popular incumbent like Kennedy.
“They have such low name recognition because they are relatively unknown, and because they have little dollars individuals are hesitant to give to these individuals.”
So far, Kennedy has raised a total of over $28-million for his re-election; with about $16-million cash-on-hand.
One possible challenger to Kennedy from within his party would be Baton Rouge area Reverend Tony Spell, the man who flouted the Governor’s orders to stop church services during the pandemic, was arrested and jailed for it and eventually exonerated of any wrongdoing. Stockley says he doubts Spell poses a threat to Kennedy’s hopes for another term.
“Respectfully, Reverend Spell would be nothing but a minor nuisance to Senator Kennedy,” says Stockley.
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