Well, that was anticlimactic. The votes went as expected. Republicans destroyed Democrats in the state-wide runoffs. Three of the four amendments passed. And most people decided they had better things to do than vote.

Secretary of State

Former state Rep Nancy Landry beat Gwen Collins-Greenup 67% – 33%.to win her boss’ job. Landry is one of the top assistants to present Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin.

Ardoin chose not to run for re-election because Louisiana is full of irrational election deniers, who at one point thought upgrading our voting machines was part of some type of election fraud.

Collins-Greenup is an attorney who lost her second straight runoff for the position. She is also one of three Democrats who made a runoff but had minimal presence on the air or on the ground. No surprise, only 22% of voters voted statewide, and only 15% locally in Orleans Parish.

Now that she’s won, it’ll be interesting to see how Landry relates to her environment. Will she become just as frustrated as Ardoin with election deniers? Or under Gov-elect Jeff Landry (no relation) will she go full MAGA and embrace them?

Attorney General

Liz Murrill beat Lindsey Cheek 66% – 34% to win her boss’ job (notice a pattern here). Murrill works under Gov-elect Jeff Landry in the Attorney General’s office. Landry picked her as his successor, and clearly voters followed suit.

Cheek, a Democrat, is an attorney who surprisingly made the runoff given that she launched her campaign in August.

Only 22% of voters voted statewide, and only 15% locally in Orleans Parish (notice a pattern here).

In electing Murrill, voters showed, purposely or inadvertently, that they have no desire for checks and balances when it comes to our newly elected Governor. As mentioned, Murrill currently serves on Landry’s AG staff. Landry handpicked her to succeed him. So it’s hard to see her pushing back against some of his executive orders the way Landry did with John Bel Edwards.

Now that she’s won, it‘ll be interesting to see how Murrill relates to her environment. Will she set her on path as AG? Or will she become the pawn Landry has set in place?

Treasurer

Former U.S. Rep John Fleming beat Dustin Granger 65% – 35% to win what was not his boss’ job. But in a similar pattern, Fleming is another Trump loving Republican who’ll be occupying a state-wide office.

Fleming was U.S. Rep for the state’s 4th district from 2009 – 2017. After that, he went on to work in the Trump administration. Now he’s back serving Louisiana as Treasurer.

Granger was the top vote getting Democrat in the general election. He managed to attract more votes than Shawn Wilson, the Democrat who ran for governor. That momentum did not translate to the runoff. 

Only 22% of voters…do I really need to say it? (Yes there’s a pattern here).

Now that he’s won, it’ll be interesting to see what Fleming does with the job. State Treasurer has become sort of a stepping stone position of late. Former Treasurer John Kennedy used it to catapult himself into the U.S. Senate. Former U.S. Rep John Schroder, the present Treasurer, used it to spur his run for governor.

Amendments

Amendment 1 – voters chose efficiency over democracy with this one. The amendment easily passed 61% – 39%. With its passage, legislators will be able to instantly override a governor’s veto in the session they’re in. Legislators no longer have to call a special session. This will cut down on costs and allow a veto override to be fast-tracked. But this fast-tracking limits the people’s chance to organize and let their voices be heard.

Amendment 2 – this one was tighter than expected. 55% – 45% voted in favor of dissolving a number of Funds that were either no longer active or were created but never enacted. The six Funds barely held over $600 combined. That money will now be turned over to the treasury.

Amendment 3 – another one that was tighter than expected. 53% – 47% voted in favor of allowing parishes to give a homestead exemption to first responders and those who work in the first responder industry. With crime and lack of police being a major issue this election season, it’s surprising this one didn’t pass by a bigger margin.

Amendment 4 – this one failed. 56% of voters voted no to clamping down on the Revenue Stabilization Fund because they probably had no idea what this amendment was about. Chalk it up to poor wording. Underneath an excessive amount of legalese was an amendment that sought to limit how easily legislators could tap into the Fund.

After some editing and rewording, expect to see Amendment 4 on the ballot again next election season. Another question is: will we see voters? 22% statewide, 15% locally. That’s a pattern. That’s a trend. Not only here but nationwide. Voters and those running for office have to find a way to do better.