Chair Gaines: “Let Boustany’s example be an invitation to all Louisianans”

BATON ROUGE, LA - A few days ago, more than 100 former national security officials from Republican administrations and former Republican members of Congress endorsed Vice President Harris in a letter published by The New York Times, declaring Trump “unfit to serve again as president.”

“We believe that Kamala Harris possesses the essential qualities to serve as President and Donald Trump does not,” the Republicans wrote in their letter. “As president, he promoted daily chaos in government, praised our enemies and undermined our allies, politicized the military and disparaged our veterans, prioritized his personal interest above American interests, and betrayed our values, democracy, and this country’s founding documents.”

Among the names who signed the letter was former Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr., who represented Louisiana’s 3rd and 7th Congressional Districts for six terms from 2005-2017. 

Boustany said he voted for Trump in 2016, but now regrets it. “I didn’t want to do it because I saw what he was back then,” said Boustany. “I saw what he would do to the Republican Party, and also had concerns about international relations. And of course, he got into office and that all played out.” Boustany voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

According to a recent article in NOLA.com, “Boustany has little hope for his longtime party, though - even if Trump loses. There’s tremendous pressure in Congress to stick with the home team, he said, recalling veiled threats on occasions when he didn’t. More than that, he sees the GOP as having steered too far from its core principles… These are among the reasons he recently changed his voter registration from Republican to independent.”

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines issued the following statement: 

“I applaud former Congressman Boustany for standing his ground and putting principles over party by supporting Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. It’s noble and rare these days for any Republican to speak out against the former President - but it’s the right thing to do for the future of our country and state.

“Boustany is right when he says the GOP has steered too far from their core values, and consequently, he’s changed his party registration. This is the story I hear from many of you who feel the Republican Party has left you. Every week, I hear from multiple Louisianans across this state who are realizing that the party who actually represents their values, fights for their needs, and cares about their livelihoods is the Democratic Party.

“Let Boustany’s example be an invitation to all Louisianans - there is a place for you in the Louisiana Democratic Party, and we would love you to join our efforts to stand up and fight back against the extremist Republicans seeking to keep you down. Our state deserves it.”