Can anyone topple Louisiana Senator John Kennedy? Incumbent hopes to raise $40 million

Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy wasted no time qualifying for reelection Friday, flexing his muscles as the heavy favorite and promising to give no quarter to Democrats who want a puncher's chance at the incumbent.

"We're going to run a very aggressive campaign and we've worked hard to raise the resources to do that," said Kennedy, the first to qualify for the Nov. 8 election at the secretary of state's office Wednesday morning. "We expect to raise $35 million to $40 million before the campaign is over. I think that will be a record in Louisiana."

But his three leading Democratic rivals — activist Gary Chambers Jr., former Navy fighter pilot Luke Mixon, and non-profit director Syrita Steib — in an increasingly red state were undeterred Wednesday as they qualified for the race.

"I don't need $40 million to beat John Kennedy; just a couple of million," said Chambers, who has raised more than $1 million but had $137,986 cash on hand in the most recent reporting period.

"I'm not the Democrats' favorite or the Republicans favorite, but I will be the people's favorite," said Chambers, whose provocative ads on marijuana legalization, the burning of the Confederate flag and abortion rights have elevated his profile.

Chambers, perhaps the most progressive of Kennedy's Democratic challengers, said the incumbent "votes against the interests of Louisiana every day."

"Are we going to go backward or move forward?" Chambers said.

Mixon, a moderate Democrat who models himself in the vein of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and has secured Edwards' endorsement, said he won't be intimated by Kennedy.

He blistered Kennedy for being among the Republicans who refused to certify the Electoral College election results in which President Biden defeated former President Trump.

"On Jan. 6 (2020), he had the opportunity to do the right thing and uphold his oath to the Constitution and defend democracy," said Mixon, who has raised more than $1 million and has $584,252 cash on hand. "Instead he chose to lie."

When Kennedy was asked specifically Wednesday if Biden is the "duly elected president," the senator didn't answer that question.

Kennedy instead said election security should be maintained by "having an election day instead of an election month," though he didn't condemn early voting or mail ballots, and requiring voter ID.

Mixon also criticized Kennedy for voting against bipartisan legislation like last year's infrastructure bill and most recently the bill designed to increase gun safety.

"I'm not going to stand by when people vote against the best interests of the state and the nation," Mixon said.

Follow the money:  Louisiana's U.S. Senate candidates post campaign finance reports

Steib, the only other candidate who had cash on hand ($15,853) and had been actively campaigning before Wednesday, was traveling and qualified by affidavit through her mother.

Kennedy said his votes and service in the Senate align with Louisiana voters, who elected him state treasurer for five terms before sending him to the U.S. Senate six years ago.

"I try to represent Louisiana values in Washington, D.C., and try to vote the way I think you would vote back home with the information I have," he said. "I'm very proud of our record."

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Kennedy touted the tax cut Republicans pushed through under Trump and what he said are 234 conservative judges appointed to the federal bench during his term.

That includes three to the U.S. Supreme Court that resulted in overturning the historic Roe v. Wade decision that had guaranteed the right to a legal abortion for a half century.

"These are judges who understand their role is to tell us what the law is, not what it is in their opinions or what it ought to be," he said.

Others who qualified for the U.S. Senate race Wednesday include: Beryl A. Billiot, no party, Kentwood;  "Xan" John, no party, Lafayette; W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson, no party, New Orleans; MV "Vinny" Mendoza, D-Ponchatoula; and Thomas Wenn, no party, Amite.

Qualifying continues Thursday and Friday.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Senator John Kennedy may raise $40M, but Democrats sign up to challenge