Endorsed Candidates

October 14, 2023 Election

The Republican Party of Jefferson Parish endorsed candidates for the primary election on the October 14 ballot at its endorsement meeting held August 19, 2023. After hearing presentations from candidates and their answers to questions from the members, the committee made the following endorsements:  

Governor-Jeff Landry  

Lieutenant Governor-Billy Nungesser  

Secretary of State-Nancy Landry  

Attorney General-John Stefanski  

Treasurer-Scott McKnight  

BESE, District 1-Paul Hollis  

Senate, District 8-Patrick Connick  

Senate, District 9-J. Cameron Henry  

Senate, District 19-Gregory A. Miller  

State Representative, District 85-Vincent E. Cox III  

State Representative, District 92-Joe Stagni  

State Representative, District 94-Stephanie Hilferty  

State Representative, District 105-Jacob Braud  

Councilman at Large, Division A-Ricky Templet  

Councilman at Large, Division B-Dominick Impastato  

Councilman, District 4-Arita Bohannan  

Councilman, District 5-Hans Liljeberg  

Polly Thomas, Chair of the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee, said “The members believe that these candidates embody Republican principles of compassion, adherence to the Constitution, and fiscal conservatism. We urge voters to cast their votes for these candidates on October 14 or during the early voting period September 30 through October 7.” The endorsement committee is composed of elected members of the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee, elected members of the Republican State Central Committee who reside in Jefferson Parish, and Republican elected officials who reside in Jefferson Parish.  

The committee also congratulated the following who were elected or re-elected without opposition:  

Mike Strain, Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry  

Tim Temple, Commissioner of Insurance  

Scott Schlegel, Judge, Court of Appeal 5th Circuit  

Sandy Holloway, BESE District 3  

Kirk Talbot, Senate District 10  

Joe Orgeron, State Representative, District 54  

Big John Illg, State Representative, District 78  

Debbie Villio, State Representative, District 79  

Polly Thomas, State Representative, District 80  

Laurie Schlegel, State Representative, District 82  

Timothy Kerner, State Representative, District 84  

Joe Lopinto, Sheriff  

Jon Gegenheimer, Clerk of Court  

Thomas Capella, Assessor  

Gerry Cvitanovich, Coroner  

Cynthia Lee Sheng, Parish President  

Deano Bonano, Council, District 2  

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 ENDORSEMENT PROCEDURES AND VOTING MEMBERS

 The purpose of the Endorsement Committee is to consider endorsing Republican candidates for public office in Jefferson  Parish, and Statewide elections.

Endorsement Committee Membership

 Endorsement Procedures

  1. The Endorsement Committee meeting shall be convened by the Jefferson  Republican Parish Executive Committee Chairman.
  2. The Endorsement Committee meeting shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of
  3. The Chairman of the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee shall serve as Chairman of the Endorsement Committee or, in his/her absence, the Vice Chairman.
  4. The Endorsement Committee shall meet within fifteen (15) days after the close of qualifying to consider the endorsement of Republican
  5. A quorum shall be fifty (50)% of the membership, excluding elected officials.
  6. Each candidate shall be notified in writing of date, time and location of the meeting for endorsement consideration.
  7. The Endorsement Committee may vote to take no action concerning a particular race.
  8. The Parish Executive Committee may cancel an endorsement of a candidate for cause (cause to be determined by the Parish Executive Committee).
  9. After the endorsement meeting has been called to order, the Chairman of the Endorsement Committee shall brief all Republican candidates in attendance regarding the rules and procedures of the Committee.
  10. Each Republican candidate shall be allowed three (3) minutes to discuss his/her candidacy.
  11. Before voting by secret ballot, the Chairman shall instruct all non-voting persons in attendance to depart the chambers.
  12. Voting by secret ballot for each candidate will be conducted in closed session. The Endorsement Committee members may discuss the candidate(s) prior to voting.
  13. After all ballots have been cast, all candidates and guest may return to the chambers for the official tally of votes. Each candidate or his/her second may witness counting the ballots.
  14. Only registered Republicans can be endorsed.
  15. “No Endorsement” is a candidate.
  16. No proxy voting.
  17. If a candidate does not receive a majority of votes in the first ballot, the two candidates receiving the most votes, including “No Endorsement”, shall compete in a runoff. If, after the first runoff, a tie remains, the following action will be taken:
    1.  If the tie vote is a result of one candidate and “No Endorsement”,  the candidate will be endorsed.
    2.  If the tie vote is a result of two candidates competing, the committee will endorse both.
  18. The Chairman of the Endorsement Committee shall notify the media promptly of its decision.
  19. These Endorsement Procedures were voted on and accepted by the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee on April 14, 2003.
  20. These Endorsement Procedures were revised, voted on and accepted by the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee on July 20, 2005.
  21. These Endorsement Procedures were revised, voted on and accepted by the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee on June 1, 2015.

The logos and marks of the Jefferson Parish Republican Party are to be used with the approval of the Jefferson Parish Republican Party.  Unauthorized use is prohibited.