BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Jamie Davis disembarked from his campaign bus and walked into the middle of Kayenne’s bar and restaurant on Friday night, delivering his message of affordability and economic opportunity for those who need it most.
Davis, the Tensas Parish farmer and Democratic candidate who is new to politics, is attempting to pull off a U.S. Senate general election upset on Nov. 3 against Republican Julia Letlow, who also won her closed primary runoff June 27.
The approximately 120 persons who listened to Davis describe his rustic roots and long nights driving his pickup truck across the state in order to meet voters who may never have heard of him until he announced his Senate campaign last year.
Wearing a seersucker blazer and knit shirt above his blue jeans, Davis told the Kayenne’s crowd that they should be wary of suit-wearing office holders who Davis said are out of touch with the economic difficulties most Louisianians are currently facing.
“People can’t afford to live. Every time a bomb drops on Iran, the price of fuel goes up,” Davis said.
Davis said an election win over Letlow, endorsed by President Donald Trump, would be an advantageous and necessary step for the next generation, but he also mentioned that rhose from that age group need to show up better than they did during the primary and runoff elections.
Election results show that only 18 percent of Louisiana registered voters cast ballots in the Senate runoff elections.
Davis carried every parish and captured just under 80 percent of the votes in the runoff, while Letlow, whose campaign spending has vastly outpaced Davis, received nearly 57 percent in the Republican runoff.
Although Davis said Republican supporters will have more money to spend over the next few months, Democrats have an advantage with more potential voters.
“They (Republicans) can have all the money they want, but what we have are votes,” said Davis.
Louisiana state senator Gerald Boudreaux told the crowd that many Democrats need to research whether they are included in the thousands of voters who are now inactive so that they can change their status and cast ballots in November.
Economic prosperity for Louisiana Davis said, includes raising educational levels that he said will entice companies to invest in the state.
Those attending also heard Davis attack carbon capture efforts in Louisiana in addition to paying attention to the needs of teachers and their schools.
If Davis does arrive in Washington, D.C. in January, Davis said he will be attuned to providing funding assistance for areas that need help.
“I want to send the money down and I will do everything I can to put the oil where the wheels squeak,” Davis added.
