Politics | News from The Acadiana Advocate

State Politics

Former Lafayette mayor responds to report of pending state 'spoil bank' audit

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR and ASHLEY WHITE | Staff writers
Aug 1, 2025

An investigative report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor into Lafayette Consolidated Government's clandestine removal in 2022 of a Vermilion River spoil bank in St. Martin Parish is expect…

$1.1B in public broadcasting funding could be cut. How Louisiana stations are responding.

BY ASHLEY WHITE and MARK BALLARD | Staff writers and KEVIN FREKING and MARY CLARE JALONICK | AP News
Jul 17, 2025

WASHINGTON — The Senate has passed about $9 billion in federal spending cuts requested by President Donald Trump, including deep reductions to public broadcasting, moving forward on one of the…

Faith Matters: Baton Rouge couple helps to bring worship service to state Capitol

BY TERRY ROBINSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
May 23, 2025

The governor's press room at the state Capitol transforms into a sacred space of praise, prayer and preaching on Mondays during legislative sessions.

Ex-Louisiana wildlife secretary Jack Montoucet charged in corruption probe out of Lafayette

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR and SAM KARLIN | Staff writers
Updated May 21, 2025

Jack Montoucet, a former secretary of the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, was indicted Wednesday on charges that he participated in a lucrative kickback scheme involving a state co…

New Lake Charles mayor plans to scrap downtown amphitheater project at Capital One site

BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer
May 19, 2025

Newly elected Lake Charles Mayor Marshall Simien Jr. says he will scrap plans for a $24 million amphitheater project downtown in place of the former Capital One tower.

Lafayette Republicans, fined $12,000 in campaign finance reporting late fees, deny accusations

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
May 12, 2025

The Lafayette Republican Parish Executive Committee and its top leaders are in trouble with the state ethics administration for allegedly filing late and incorrect campaign finance reports in 2023.

Voters in St. Martinville say no to city's 127-year-old charter

By STEPHEN MARCANTEL | Staff writer
May 5, 2025

The city of St. Martinville will now be governed under the state's Lawrason Act after voters opted to abandon the city 125-year-old charter on Saturday.

Lake Charles City Council District C has a new representative after runoff election

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer
May 3, 2025

Tommy Bilbo received 57% of the votes to win Saturday's runoff election for the District C seat on the Lake Charles City Council.

Lake Charles mayoral race has a tight margin as results start to come in

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer
May 3, 2025

Early voting results and 32 reporting precincts show a tight margin in the Lake Charles mayoral runoff, with challenger Marshall Simien receiving 51% votes, or 5,564 ballots, while incumbent N…

Lake Charles will have a new mayor as Marshall Simien wins runoff over incumbent

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer
May 3, 2025

Marshall Simien Jr. defeated incumbent Nicholas "Nic" Hunter on Saturday in a runoff election for mayor of Lake Charles.

Lake Charles marshal could use his salary to pay for community policing under proposed law

BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer
May 3, 2025

A proposed state law that would allow the Lake Charles city marshal to spend a portion of his salary on community policing passed its first hurdle this week in the Legislature.

May Day brings protesters to downtown Lafayette for worker, immigrant, LGBTQ+ rights

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
May 1, 2025

The rights of workers, immigrants and others brought about 30 people to downtown Lafayette on Thursday for a May Day Strong protest.

Students, community members protest UL's closure of Office of Inclusion, other resources

BY ASHLEY WHITE | Staff writer
Apr 30, 2025

A small group of University of Louisiana at Lafayette students and community members gathered in the rain Wednesday to speak out against the school’s rollback of diversity, equity and inclusio…

Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, in Broussard: 'The only good tariff is a dead tariff'

By STEPHEN MARCANTEL | Staff writer
Apr 21, 2025

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, at a Monday morning meeting in Broussard, said he doesn't like tariffs and he's not exactly sure what President Donald Trump's plan is on tariffs but expects it will br…

Lafayette AmeriCorps volunteers, who help with residential community projects, dismissed

BY ASHLEY WHITE | Staff writer
Apr 17, 2025

Several AmeriCorps volunteers in Lafayette were dismissed this week after a federal directive.

New names proposed for four Lafayette park, recreation complexes

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Apr 16, 2025

Four Lafayette park complexes will be getting new names if bills introduced by state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux are approved.

U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields meets Lafayette residents, calls out tariffs, possible Medicaid cuts

By STEPHEN MARCANTEL | Staff writer
Apr 16, 2025

U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, of Louisiana's 6th District, said 206,000 residents in his district are under threat of losing Medicaid coverage if the current budget resolution becomes a reality.

Eddie Lau, accused of lying on the campaign trail, has worked for Louisiana's top politicians

BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer
Apr 10, 2025

Chun Ping “Eddie” Lau usually worked behind the scenes, crafting campaign websites, producing social media videos and consulting for high-profile politicians who hoped to win elected office in…

Louisiana sees decline in international students and it's not the only state, data shows

BY ASHLEY WHITE | Staff writer
Updated Apr 8, 2025

Louisiana, which was beginning to see its number of international students rise after plummeting during the COVID-19 pandemic, is starting to see another decline.

Democratic turnout lands Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter in runoff with Marshall Simien Jr.

BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer
Mar 31, 2025

High turnout among Democratic voters this weekend forced Republican Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter into a runoff in his attempt for a third term as mayor against Independent Marshall Simien Jr.…

One vote made all the difference in Abbeville City Council race

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Updated Mar 30, 2025

When they say every vote matters, it does.

Lake Charles mayor's race headed to runoff: incumbent Nic Hunter to face Marshall Simien Jr.

BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer
Mar 29, 2025

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter will face a runoff against Marshall Simien Jr. on May 3 as he campaigns for his third term as mayor.

Annie Spell unopposed, will replace Brach Myers, represent Lafayette in state House District 45

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Updated Mar 14, 2025

Annie Spell will serve as the state Representative for House District 45 in Lafayette.

Lafayette man arrested for distributing information claiming Democrats endorsed Republican candidate

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Updated Mar 13, 2025

A Lafayette man was arrested Wednesday for violating state campaign ethics law during the recent election for the state Senate District 23 seat won by Brach Myers.

Lafayette Mayor-President Boulet outlines priorities for 2025, beyond

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Updated Mar 12, 2025

Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet in her State of the Parish address on Wednesday outlined her priorities for 2025 and beyond, including cracking down on slum lords, moving ahead with s…

Qualifying runs through Friday to fill Lafayette House seat vacated by Brach Myers

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Mar 12, 2025

Qualifying is underway in Lafayette Parish to fill state House seat 45 vacated by state Sen. Brach Myers.

How much did Brach Myers, Jesse Regan spend on campaign for Senate District 23?

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Updated Feb 27, 2025

Both candidates for state Senate District 23 loaned themselves at least $200,000 for the campaign that ended Feb. 15 with state Rep. Brach Myers of Lafayette defeating Broussard City Councilma…

Possible campaign violations investigated in Lafayette senate race, winner says

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
Updated Feb 17, 2025

An investigation is underway into possible campaign violations leading into the Feb. 15 election for state Senate District 23 in Lafayette Parish.