Trump’s endorsement of Louisiana lawmaker transforms primary

President Trump’s endorsement of Republican state Sen. Blake Miguez in the race for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District has shaken up the crowded primary.

Mr. Miguez, who initially ran for the U.S. Senate against GOP incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, withdrew from that race and opted to run for Republican Rep. Julia Letlow’s open seat after she jumped into the race against Mr. Cassidy upon receiving Mr. Trump’s endorsement.  

Since Mr. Miguez entered the House race and received Mr. Trump’s endorsement last week, the primary has shrunk, with state Rep. Dixon McMakin announcing Monday would not run for the 5th Congressional District.

Mr. Trump’s early primary endorsement of Mr. Miguez shocked ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley. “There are a lot of Republicans still to announce, and this endorsement has the effect to alter that, to some degree,” Mr. Stockley told the Louisiana Radio Network.

Mr. Miguez has a head start on all of his GOP primary opponents. He has raised more than $4.7 million and has $3.6 million cash on hand.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump called Mr. Miguez a “MAGA Warrior” and lauded him as a popular seventh-generation Louisianan who has “dedicated his life to serving his community.”

Mr. Trump said Mr. Miguez would “work tirelessly” to champion farmers and ranchers, grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations, promote American manufacturing, expand domestic energy production and strengthen border security.

Mr. Trump also said Mr. Miguez would support law enforcement, the military and veterans, would advance election integrity and protect Second Amendment rights.

“Blake Miguez has my complete and total endorsement to be the next Representative from Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District,” Mr. Trump wrote. “He will not let you down.”

He is a member of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus and served as the state House’s majority leader before being elected to his current post.

He’s running on a Trump America First Agenda and had been excoriating Mr. Cassidy during his Senate campaign, saying in one ad that “Bill Cassidy sucks.”