This is the first time in a long, long time since h voters have voted in closed party primaries, and Saturday they’re voting in a closed voter primary runoff in two races to succeed U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy.
Cassidy lost his seat and he has about six months before his term, and time in the U.S. Senate, ends. There are two Republicans who made the GOP runoff for the seat: U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and h Treasurer John Fleming. Both claim to be supporters of President Donald Trump. Letlow got his endorsement. Fleming did not.
Three Democrats were running in the May Democratic closed primary, one White guy with the most traditional endorsements, and two Black guys: Gary Crockett and Jamie Davis. Crockett and Davis made the runoff, and they hope to face the Republican nominee in November.
When I asked them to take off their Democratic hats and their party allegiance, and consider themselves Republican voters who choose to vote rather than stay home, reluctantly, they said they would vote for Fleming.
“Fleming is all over the place, and Ms. Letlow is just doing what she’s told to do,” Davis told me. Pressed, he said he would choose Fleming. “I would vote for….,” he said before pausing, adding, “I would probably vote for John Fleming.” Why? “Because I believe I can beat both of them, but I believe I can beat him easier.”
Crockett said, “I would vote for Fleming, only because he is less Trump than Letlow.” He couldn’t stop there. “But they’re both horrible choices, and it would be a choice between the lesser of two evils.”
Times-Picayune columnist Will Sutton on Thursday, September 12, 2019.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER
There are Democrats who registered as Republicans so they could vote for Cassidy. But not enough. There were No Party voters who had a choice of voting in the Democratic closed primary or the Republican closed primary, and they chose the Republican primary so they, too, could vote for Cassidy. But not enough.
On Election Day Saturday, Republicans and No Party voters who voted in the Republican primary can choose Fleming or Letlow and Democrats and No Party voters who voted in the Democratic primary can choose Crockett or Davis.
The two Democrats want your vote. Crockett believes he’s the best candidate because he’s a successful businessman who can write his own legislation. As a Tallulah native, he said he’s seen lows and highs. Davis believes he’s the best candidate because he’s a successful businessman who has faced challenging times, even facing the possibility of bankruptcy, and he knows more about rural h than Crockett, also a native of a rural parish, who he said is focused on New Orleans and not much else in the state.
Neither believes Cassidy has done a good job. Both are certain they can do better. It’s been a long, long time since Louisian has had a Democrat as a U.S. Senator. Cassidy beat Sen. Mary Landrieu in 2014. Crockett and Davis are sure they can beat Fleming or Letlow. Crockett wants to be the first U.S. Senator from New Orleans since the 1800s. Davis wants to be the first real farmer senator in recent memory.
If they had to, they’d vote for Fleming.
Fortunately for them, and you, there are options.
I hope you exercise your right to vote, and choose wisely.