by Derek Babcock, LAGOP Chairman

In response to a partisan recall effort targeting Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill, the Republican Party of Louisiana launched “The Great Recall” – a campaign asking voters to remember what Louisiana looked like just a few years ago.

Don’t You Recall?

Just three years ago, New Orleans was known as America’s Murder Capital. Today, under Governor Landry’s law-and-order agenda, murders are down 55% from their 2022 peak. Carjackings have dropped 35%, armed robberies 28%, and the city recorded its lowest homicide count in nearly 50 years. Families are safer.

Don’t You Recall when Louisiana ranked 49th in the nation in education? Today, our state made the largest one-year jump in its history on the Nation’s Report Card – climbing 11 spots to 32nd overall. We now rank 1st in the nation in reading growth and 2nd in math growth. Fourth graders achieved the largest reading gains in America, and Louisiana was one of only two states to fully surpass pre-pandemic scores in both reading and math. Policies like “Let Teachers Teach” removed cell phones from classrooms, reduced bureaucracy, and refocused schools on academics.

Economically, the transformation has been remarkable. Since Governor Landry took office, more than $100 billion in new investments have been announced, including Hyundai’s $5.8 billion steel mill, Woodside Energy’s $17.5 billion LNG project, and Venture Global’s $18 billion expansion. For decades, Louisiana suffered from population loss and economic stagnation. Today, people are moving in, jobs are being created, and Louisiana is open for business.

Working families are seeing direct relief. Governor Landry delivered the largest state income tax cut in Louisiana history, saving the typical middle-class family nearly $500 and the average working individual around $261 this year. The Governor’s insurance reforms are beginning to stabilize costs after years of steep increases. More insurers have entered the market; and rate reductions have been filed across the state. One recent news report cited Louisiana drivers saving more than $340 million so far.

Attorney General Liz Murrill has been a critical partner in this progress. Her office expanded the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, leading to over 515 arrests and the rescue of more than 60 children in 2025 alone. She secured a $45 million settlement from CVS to protect patients and independent pharmacies, aggressively pursued Medicaid fraud, and successfully defended Louisiana’s first-in-the-nation Ten Commandments law in public schools.

Governor Landry has also taken important steps to improve health outcomes: removing soda, candy, and energy drinks from SNAP purchases; banning harmful dyes in school meals; expanding rural healthcare access with over $208 million in funding; and ensuring better medical care for soon-to-be-released inmates to reduce long-term taxpayer costs.

This recall effort is not driven by failure; it is driven by political spite. The Radical Left cannot accept that Louisiana voters chose a different direction and that this direction is clearly working.

Critics are free to disagree with the Governor’s policies. That is part of the democratic process. But voters should also evaluate the results honestly and fairly.

The “Great Recall” campaign is a simple reminder: Before you sign any petition, pause and remember where we were… and how far we’ve come. Louisiana is now safer, stronger in education, attracting massive investment, lowering costs, and delivering real results for working families.

Progress is not perfect, but it is undeniable. Louisiana still faces challenges; yet, we are clearly moving in the right direction. Continuing this momentum makes far more sense than handing power back to the same failed policies of the past.

Don’t You Recall the progress?