BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Former Congressman Jeff Landry announced Monday that he’s running to be Louisiana’s next attorney general, seeking to oust fellow Republican Buddy Caldwell from the job.
“I look forward to putting my proven conservative principles to work for the people of Louisiana as our next Attorney General,” Landry said in a statement that he posted on social media and his website.
The election will be in October 2015.
Landry, a lawyer and businessman from New Iberia, was in the U.S. House for one term and quickly became a tea party favorite.
But he lost his re-election bid in 2012 when he was forced into the same district as Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, after Louisiana lost a House seat because of stagnant population in the latest federal census.
Landry has criticized Caldwell for his support of contracting arrangements called “contingency fee” deals that give lawyers a slice of a judgment, rather than a flat rate of pay.
After Landry’s announcement, Caldwell issued a statement defending his performance during his two terms in office.
“We have restored the credibility and integrity to the office of Attorney General. I look forward to continuing to represent the citizens of Louisiana,” he said.
Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter tweeted his support of Landry, calling him a strong conservative who would “be a very qualified AG.”
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