Four years after Trump endorsement, MAGA Republicans turned on Louisiana Sen. Robert Mills

Four years ago a then unknown candidate for a Louisiana state Senate seat was brought up on stage in Bossier City during a Donald Trump rally and endorsed by the president of the United States.

Republican Robert Mills, a retired oil executive, had been recruited by Louisiana MAGA movement politicians like Congressman Mike Johnson, state Rep. Alan Seabaugh and Attorney General Jeff Landry to oust fellow Republican state Sen. Ryan Gatti, who they felt had become too cozy with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Mills easily defeated the incumbent Gatti for the northwestern Louisiana District 36 seat in 2019 with 56% of the vote.

But four years later, the tables have turned with many of those who courted Mills now having recruited fellow Republican Adam Bass to attempt to boot Mills out of office. Bass has even landed the endorsement of Republican Louisiana U.S. Sen. John Kennedy.

It's one of only two Senate races where a GOP incumbent is facing a serious challenge from a fellow Republican. The other is District 33 in northeastern Louisiana, where Sen. Stewart Cathey is being pushed hard by Ned White.

"I think it says something about the Republican Party," said Mills, noting the state party has stayed on the sideline. "I've got no support from the party. I'm very disappointed to be in this situation, but I'm proud to run again and look forward to continue to serve."

The newly drawn boundaries of District 36 include most of Bossier Parish and the population centers of Webster Parish, including Minden.

Bass and those who flipped on Mills said the senator betrayed them on spending bills, pointing to two specific votes:

∎ one in favor of a bill this summer that raised the state's spending cap to allow legislators to use a massive budget surplus to fund infrastructure projects and pay down debt;

∎ and one in favor of a 2021 amendment that would have extended the temporary .45-cent sales tax beyond 2025 to fund infrastructure before the measure failed.

"When Robert ran four years ago he told everyone he was a fiscal conservative," said Bass, an All-State insurance agent and member of the Bossier Parish School Board. "But those two votes are the epitome of tax and spend."

Mills noted this summer's vote to raise the spending cap was unanimous in the Senate and won more than two-thirds approval in the House.

"The spending cap vote was the easiest voted I made," Mills said. "We didn't need a savings account; we needed to put that money to work and all 39 senators agreed on a plan to invest that money in roads and bridges and other infrastructure.

"We payed down debt and spent that money on things our constituents want and need. Bossier Parish is growing like a weed. We need that investment."

He said the vote to extend the .45-cent sales tax was a "trial balloon" as lawmakers sought ways to raise money for infrastructure and said lawmakers found an alternate solution he supported to divert a portion of the vehicle sales tax to roads and bridges.

"There's never a single perfect answer," Mills said.

But Bass said the Legislature should have appropriated as much of the surplus as possible to paying down debt.

"It makes more sense to pay down debt and free up cash flow to be able to reinvest every year in the state and infrastructure," Bass said.

Bass said the surplus never made it to Bossier Parish after projects there were pulled to punish northwestern Louisiana Freedom Caucus lawmakers like Reps. Seabaugh, Dodie Horton and Raymond Crews who voted against raising the the spending cap.

"I was livid," said Bass, who said he texted Mills to ask what could be done and that Mills insinuated Bass should run against Crews.

Seabaugh, who is running in a tight race for the open District 31 northwestern Louisiana Senate seat against retired Northwestern State basketball Coach Mike McConathy, also a Republican, has gone public with his displeasure with Mills.

"Four years ago conservatives all got on board with Robert Mills because he promised to fight for lower taxes and fiscal responsibility, but when he got to Baton Rouge he voted to raise taxes and bust the budget," Seabaugh said. "The people of Bossier and Webster parishes deserve better."

Mills dismissed Seabaugh's criticism. "I can't help the fact that (Seabaugh) has a substantial opponent in his race," he said.

"I have an excellent voting record; I've represented my people well," Mills said. "I'm living on faith that the same folks who helped me win four years ago are going to help me win again."

Gatti said he finds the turnabout ironic.

"The establishment Republican Party is more concerned with candidates they can 100% control and if that doesn't happen they have the money and power and influence to change the outcome of a race," Gatti said.

The election is Oct. 14.

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

"

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Bossier Senate race shreds alliances as Republicans battle each other