Families and educational choice are big winners in Louisiana elections

Louisiana families were big winners, as candidates supporting educational choice were overwhelmingly successful in Saturday’s elections. Voters cast ballots in the gubernatorial, Board of Elementary (BESE) and Secondary Education, and legislative races.

Candidates endorsed by the Louisiana Federation for Children (LFC), the state’s voice for educational choice, won or advanced to a runoff in 49 of 56 races in which Louisiana Federation for Children Political Action Committee (LFC PAC) invested.

“Voters sent a clear message that Louisiana lawmakers and BESE members must continue to advance and support innovative educational choice options,” said Ann Duplessis, president of the Louisiana Federation for Children.

“This is a huge victory for the Louisiana Scholarship Program, which provides low income families with the same opportunity as more affluent parents already have – the financial resources to send their child to the school of their choice.”

In the state’s legislative and BESE races, the Louisiana Federation for Children Political Action Committee provided more than $800,000 in independent expenditures to support school choice candidates in the primary election. This is the largest election investment in LFC’s history.

In the Nov. 21st runoff election, LFC PAC will make significant direct contributions and independent expenditures in legislative and BESE races. LFC PAC will also support Senator David Vitter in the gubernatorial runoff.

“Senator Vitter is a strong supporter of school choice,” said Duplessis. “He has pledged to expand all educational choice options, including the Louisiana Scholarship Program.”

Louisiana election highlights:

• BESE: LFC PAC supported candidates in seven of the state’s eight districts. Six candidates won their races outright and the other advanced to the runoff.
• Senate: LFC PAC supported 13 candidates for State Senate. Nine out of 13 candidates won in the primary.
• House: LFC PAC supported 36 candidates for the House of Representatives. 27 candidates won in the primary and five candidates advanced to the runoff.

The Louisiana Federation for Children seeks to improve Louisiana’s K-12 education by advancing systemic and sustainable public policy that empowers parents, particularly those in low-income families, to choose the education they determine is best for their children. LFC supports a wide range of school choice initiatives by building strong legislative coalitions and working closely with allies. We also fight against bills and regulatory changes that would hurt existing school choice programs.