Latest news with #BlakeMiguez
Washington Post
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Conservative Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez announces bid to run for US Sen. Bill Cassidy's seat
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez officially launched his bid on Tuesday to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in 2026. Miguez is the latest GOP challenger to Cassidy, who has been chastised by his party for being one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial .
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Conservative Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez announces bid to run for US Sen. Bill Cassidy's seat
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez officially launched his bid on Tuesday to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in 2026. Miguez is the latest GOP challenger to Cassidy, who has been chastised by his party for being one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial. 'Phony politicians like Bill Cassidy can't shoot straight," Miguez, 43, says in a video on social media to announce his campaign. In the video, Miguez, a champion competitive sharpshooter, shows off his skills — using various firearms and, literally, aiming at targets brandishing words like 'Marxism,' 'food dyes' and 'crime.' Miguez served in the state House for more than eight years and was elected to the Senate in 2023. A staunch advocate for the Second Amendment, Miguez has sponsored gun-related bills, including a measure that allows residents, 18 and older, to carry concealed handguns without a permit. Over the past year, he has also authored legislation that aids in federal crackdowns of immigration enforcement. In the Statehouse, Miguez has demonstrated a confrontational approach during bill debates — a tactic that was apparent in his campaign announcement. 'I'm running because the American Dream is worth fighting for -- and DC phonies forget that. Bill Cassidy betrayed our state, our President, and our principles,' Miguez posted on X. Cassidy, who is in his second term, is up for reelection in reliably red Louisiana, where residents overwhelmingly supported Trump in the past three presidential elections. While Cassidy, 67, won his last reelection handily, he has not been on the ballot since his controversial vote to convict Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Cassidy's vote resulted in the lawmaker being trashed on social media and censured by Louisiana Republicans. Recent actions by Cassidy suggest he's working to mend ties with Trump loyalists. He has emphasized his commitment to work with the president to advance his agenda and showed support for many of Trump's cabinet appointments. Most notably, in February Cassidy joined Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cassidy currently has a significant fundraising advantage, with more than $7.4 million in his campaign account at the end of the first quarter. But in the eyes of some, Cassidy's past actions make him vulnerable. In addition to Miguez, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, who served in Trump's first administration, has announced that he will run for the Senate seat. The 73-year-old has also lambasted Cassidy. Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow is also rumored to be considering running against Cassidy. A big change in the upcoming election is Louisiana's new closed primaries. Until the new system was adopted this year, congressional candidates from all parties seeking the same office ran on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. In the state's unique 'jungle primary," voters could choose any candidate, even if they do not align with the voters' registered party. If a candidate earned more than 50% of the total vote then they would win the office outright. If no one reached the threshold, the top two finishers would face each other in a runoff. Under the new primary system, only voters who are registered Republicans will be able to participate in the GOP Senate primary. The effect is seen as a potential challenge for Cassidy, who had benefited from the less-partisan nature of the old system. The election will take place November 3, 2026.
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Conservative Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez announces bid to run for US Sen. Bill Cassidy's seat
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez officially launched his bid on Tuesday to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in 2026. Miguez is the latest GOP challenger to Cassidy, who has been chastised by his party for being one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial. 'Phony politicians like Bill Cassidy can't shoot straight,' Miguez, 43, says in a video on social media to announce his campaign. In the video, Miguez, a champion competitive sharpshooter, shows off his skills — using various firearms and, literally, aiming at targets brandishing words like 'Marxism,' 'food dyes' and 'crime.' Miguez served in the state House for more than eight years and was elected to the Senate in 2023. A staunch advocate for the Second Amendment, Miguez has sponsored gun-related bills, including a measure that allows residents, 18 and older, to carry concealed handguns without a permit. Over the past year, he has also authored legislation that aids in federal crackdowns of immigration enforcement. In the Statehouse, Miguez has demonstrated a confrontational approach during bill debates — a tactic that was apparent in his campaign announcement. 'I'm running because the American Dream is worth fighting for -- and DC phonies forget that. Bill Cassidy betrayed our state, our President, and our principles,' Miguez posted on X. Cassidy, who is in his second term, is up for reelection in reliably red Louisiana, where residents overwhelmingly supported Trump in the past three presidential elections. While Cassidy, 67, won his last reelection handily, he has not been on the ballot since his controversial vote to convict Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Cassidy's vote resulted in the lawmaker being trashed on social media and censured by Louisiana Republicans. Recent actions by Cassidy suggest he's working to mend ties with Trump loyalists. He has emphasized his commitment to work with the president to advance his agenda and showed support for many of Trump's cabinet appointments. Most notably, in February Cassidy joined Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cassidy currently has a significant fundraising advantage, with more than $7.4 million in his campaign account at the end of the first quarter. But in the eyes of some, Cassidy's past actions make him vulnerable. In addition to Miguez, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, who served in Trump's first administration, has announced that he will run for the Senate seat. The 73-year-old has also lambasted Cassidy. Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow is also rumored to be considering running against Cassidy. A big change in the upcoming election is Louisiana's new closed primaries. Until the new system was adopted this year, congressional candidates from all parties seeking the same office ran on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. In the state's unique 'jungle primary,' voters could choose any candidate, even if they do not align with the voters' registered party. If a candidate earned more than 50% of the total vote then they would win the office outright. If no one reached the threshold, the top two finishers would face each other in a runoff. Under the new primary system, only voters who are registered Republicans will be able to participate in the GOP Senate primary. The effect is seen as a potential challenge for Cassidy, who had benefited from the less-partisan nature of the old system. The election will take place November 3, 2026.
Axios
15-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
How MAHA is influencing Louisiana legislation
Louisiana lawmakers are considering a ban on fluoridated community water, increasing access to ivermectin and restricting schoolchildren's access to "ultra-processed" foods. The latest: The House of Representatives' education committee takes up Sen. Blake Miguez's "ultra-processed" food ban for discussion Wednesday morning. Other bills, including one that would expand access to ivermectin and another to remove fluoride from water systems, await discussion in the House committee on health and welfare. All three have already passed out of the state Senate. The big picture: The trio of measures are reflective of talking points amplified by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his initiative to "Make America Healthy Again." Here's a closer look at each: Fluoride in the water system Dental and public health experts have long argued in favor of community fluoridation, wherein fluoride is added to public water supplies to help prevent tooth decay. Yes, but: Fluoridation has long been controversial among detractors who view it as a form of government making a personal health choice. Louisiana isn't alone in considering its removal. Utah and Florida recently moved to ban the practice, and lawmakers in several other states are also pushing fluoridation bans, per ADA News. By the numbers: Nearly 63% of the U.S. population was served by fluoridated community water systems as of 2022, per the latest CDC estimates. In Louisiana, 33.9% of the state's population has access to fluoridated water through its municipal system. "Ultra-processed" food in schools Zoom in: A bill to ban "ultra-processed" foods in schools defines the term as those with ingredients from among a list primarily comprised of food dyes and seed oils. The ingredients are targets of RFK Jr. and some health food influencers. Go deeper. Catch up quick: Earlier this month, Gov. Jeff Landry signaled his approval by signing an executive order effectively asking the federal government to allow the state to exclude SNAP benefit coverage for candy and soda. Over-the-counter ivermectin Flashback: Ivermectin, which is a drug intended to treat parasitic infections, primarily in animals, became a favorite COVID-19 cure among some health influencers during the height of the pandemic.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana lawmakers propose ‘loser pays' law to prevent frivolous suits
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A bill was prefiled to prevent lawsuits from giving the plaintiffs the financial burden after trial. Louisiana Senator Blake Miguez (R-La.) and State Representative Mike Johnson (R-La.) are credited with being the authors of SB148. The legislation is referred to as the 'loser pays legislation.' The bill states that if a defendant wins a pretrial dismissal, they can recover attorney fees from the plaintiff. If a defendant wins at a trial, resulting in the dismissal of all claims, they are also entitled to attorney fees and costs from the plaintiff. Current Louisiana law states that each party takes care of their own attorney fees unless ruled otherwise or if there's a finding of frivolous litigation. Miguez mentioned on X, formerly known as Twitter, that 'reducing the number of frivolous lawsuits filed will lower insurance costs.' If the legislation were to pass, it would go into effect on Aug. 1, 2025. The 2025 Regular Legislative Session will convene, starting at noon on Monday, April 14. Dad's last-minute Christmas gift becomes $7M lotto winner Disgraced former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has died at age 94 Senate Republicans join push to limit power of judges TikTok deal pulled after Trump tariff announcement Louisiana lawmakers propose 'loser pays' law to prevent frivolous suits Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
