(By Jacob Mathews/The Center Square) — Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District has one clear favorite, incumbent U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., for the Nov. 5 election.

The district covers the crease of the boot from Morehouse Parish in the north to Washington Parish in the east and has been represented by Republicans for quite some time now.

Letlow won by majority vote in the primary during a special election held in March 2021 to replace her husband, former U.S. Rep. Luke Letlow, who won the 2020 December general election and died from complications of COVID-19 before he could be sworn into office.

Letlow won again in the 2022 primary amongst a crowded field.

If it wasn’t already enough that the congresswoman was in the lead because of her family’s history in the position, this time around she has even less competition, with one challenger from both sides of the aisle.

Additionally, Letlow has a massive advantage in campaign finances. Her war chest has only grown since the last story from The Center Square showed she was the only candidate with any contributions.

According to the Federal Election Commission, that’s still the case with $2.5 million in contributions as of Oct. 16, nearly $1 million more than what was reported just a month ago. She’s spent $1.5 million of that money, and the other candidates have received nothing.

Letlow currently holds seats on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies.

The 5th District incumbent worked with U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La, back in May to introduce legislation which condemns the border crisis created by the Biden administration and his policies.

Letlow is also 100% pro-life, pro second amendment, opposes raising the minimum wage and supports oil, gas and agriculture industries.

The Republican challenger is M.V. Mendoza, a well-traveled scholar who was born in Guatemala and served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He’s a somewhat familiar face as he ran against Letlow in the 2021 special election as an independent, but couldn’t get more than 0.2% of the vote.

Although Mendoza is running as a Republican, his campaign page says he wants to focus on helping the poor in the 5th Congressional District and taxing the rich. Not only that, Mendoza says the economic status of many lower income households in the 5th Congressional District have their congresswoman to blame.

“The incumbent, Julia Letlow, has had three years of on-the-job training while families in this district have faced increasingly difficult circumstances,” Mendoza’s campaign page says. “While you’ve been losing an average of $600 a month on higher grocery prices, utility bills, and prescription costs — or up to $1,500 a month if you’re paying for insurance that’s gone up by as much as 40% — Julia Letlow has been collecting thousands in political contributions.”

Mendoza also says she’s a failed educator and has done nothing to impact education in Louisiana.

Democrat candidate Michael Vallien Jr. has spent his career working in advocacy and as a licensed real estate broker. His Ballotpedia page says he’s deeply passionate about the administration of government agencies. He says he’s worked with the Social Security Administration daily and sees there is a disconnect between the agency’s mission and the institution of its own policies.