Here we go again. Last month, we found out here on The Hayride that former Republican state rep Scott McKnight threw his support behind Ted James, the far-left Democratic candidate for East Baton Rouge Mayor-President. Voters in EBR received text messages from the Ted James campaign highlighting McKnight’s subversive endorsement of James.

In the words of the late Billy Mays, “But wait, there’s more!” We now have another turncoat RINO politician endorsing Ted James for Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge. This time, it’s none other than the RINO state rep Paula Davis.

Many Baton Rouge residents received the following text message from the Ted James campaign about Paula Davis’s endorsement:

“This is Paula Davis, State Rep for District 69. I’ve served in the Legislature since 2015, being recognized as a LABI All-Star for my support of our business community, and earning a 97% lifetime rating from the Louisiana Right to Life. I am a conservative Republican and , , for Mayor-President of EBR …”

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Anyone who’s read The Hayride over the past five years knows that Paula Davis does not a have conservative record to stand on. In 2018, Rep. Davis proposed a $400+ million sales tax increase in Louisiana after Governor Edwards signed a temporary sales tax increase in 2016. Then in 2020, Davis teamed up with the legislative Black Caucus to elect RINO Clay Schexnayder as Speaker of the LA House. Three years later, she also voted for to bust the “spending cap” during the 2023 legislative session—allowing the legislature to blow through even more taxpayer dollars

Earlier this year, Paula Davis authored a LABI-backed bill (HB 728) that originally would have allowed convicted violent criminals to receive free, taxpayer-funded college tuition. Fortunately, state senator Blake Miguez amended the bill to prevent violent criminals from accessing our tax dollars under this bill.

Clearly, Paula Davis has not delivered real victories for conservative voters in her district. Yet, she is now muddying the waters in the East Baton Rouge Mayor-President election by endorsing a far-left Democratic candidate against a viable Republican.

“… I served with Ted. He was always willing to listen to differing viewpoints, and he was always honest. . , .

We desperately need a Mayor-President who will just get the work done. Put potholes over politics. One who will get at-risk kids into Head Start, not leave 400 seats empty. One who will work with our Sheriff and our business community, with the Metro Council and with leaders of Baker, Central, St. George & Zachary.

FuturePac, associated with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, just released a poll showing Ted leading Mayor Broome.

https://www.wafb.com/2024/10/21/ted-james-leads-newly-released-mayoral-poll/

If Broome were to face the top Republican, she wins 50-38%. 

Broome beat Bodi White and Steve Carter, both experienced candidates, and will easily defeat an opponent that hasn’t voted in 8 years and has struggled to display basic knowledge of the challenges we are facing.

Our economy has fallen from #21 to #155. Our murder rate is up 22% THIS YEAR. 

I know I’m asking you to do something different. 

, – .

Paula Davis (R-Baton Rouge)

Approved and paid for by the Ted James Campaign.”

There’s a lot to unpack in this highly inaccurate message. First off, let’s point that Ted James is not some “bipartisan” candidate. In 2019, he served as co-chair for the Kamala Harris presidential campaign in Louisiana during her failed run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Then in 2022, James endorsed far-left US Senate candidate and marijuana enthusiast Gary Chambers. What’s more, Ted James served under Biden regime as the SBA Administrator for Region 6.

Just a quick look at Ted James’s twitter/X account completely debunks the absurd notion that he “works with Democrats and Republicans”. James has obviously made some incendiary remarks toward Republicans and white people on public platforms. Yet, we still see RINOs endorsing the guy for elected office.

Before we go further, let’s move back to the Paula Davis-approved message from the Ted James campaign. Toward the end of her message, Paula Davis references a poll and claims that no Republican candidate has a shot in a runoff against incumbent Sharon Weston-Broome.

A simple breakdown of this election shows that top Republican candidate Sid Edwards holds a solid chance of both making and winning a runoff election for EBR’s Mayor-President.

Additionally, the early voting totals in East Baton Rouge parish so far don’t look great for the top Democratic candidates Sharon Weston-Broome and Ted James. The Republican-leaning of the parish are voting at much higher levels than the Democratic-leaning areas.

Even last year, a majority of East Baton Rouge parish voters picked Republican candidates in all three statewide runoff elections—Secretary of State, AG, and Treasurer. So, let’s not act like Republicans don’t exist in Baton Rouge anymore

Overall, the RINOs who have endorsed Ted James for Mayor-President are setting a dangerous precedent that deserves swift castigation. Through their endorsements, Scott McKnight and Paula Davis are showing future Republican pols that it is okay to betray conservative voters by making deals with their political opposition.

Fortunately, there is at least one major Republican official in Louisiana is is willing to criticize GOP turncoats politicians for their duplicity. Congressman Clay Higgins put out this spot-on post on twitter/X earlier this week.

Paula Davis’s recent endorsement of Ted James is indefensible, and a censure from the state GOP is an appropriate reaction for her decision.

Republicans in East Baton Rouge parish actually have a viable candidate on the ballot, and his name is Sid Edwards. We don’t need to compromise our values by voting for a problematic politician like Ted James who supports the Biden-Harris regime. Let’s stand with the real Republican in this important Mayor-President election.

 

Nathan Koenig is a frequent contributor to RVIVR.com, a national conservative political site affiliated with The Hayride. Follow his writing on the Louisiana First Standard Substack, on Twitter (X) @LAFirstStandard, on Tik Tok @la.first.standard & on Instagram @lafirststandard. Email him here: louisianafirststandard@proton.me