Surprise Republican candidate challenges GOP Congressman Higgins; party sticks with Clay
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Surprise Republican candidate Holden Hoggatt will challenge GOP U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins in Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District race, while the state party is sticking with the incumbent.
Both announcements come on the eve of the three-day qualifying period for the Nov. 8 election.
Hoggatt, 42, is a Lafayette prosecutor who also operates his own legal practice and raises cattle.
He's never served in elective office, but sits on the Bayou Vermilion Board of Commissioners.
Hoggatt's campaign touts his memberships with the National Rifle Association, the Delta Waterfowl Association and the American Quarter Horse Association.
He'll face three-term incumbent Higgins, who has embraced and cultivated his persona as the "Cajun' John Wayne" through his 2016 Crime Stoppers videos that vaulted him into Congress. Higgins secured a landslide win in 2020 against a field of Democrats.
On Tuesday the Louisiana Republican Party issued a unanimous executive committee endorsement of Higgins, calling him "a strong conservative and outspoken voice for Louisianans" who supports oil and gas production and gun rights."
"We will not stop fighting for constitutionalist and conservative values," Higgins said in a statement. "Our mission to serve the citizens of South Louisiana shall continue."
Higgins, also of Lafayette, was an unwavering supporter of President Trump and amplified Trump's false claims that massive voter fraud cost him the election.
Hoggatt hasn't yet filed a campaign financing report, but his campaign staff said they are confident he can raise the money to compete with Higgins.
Higgins most recently reported $258,135 cash on hand for his reelection, the least of any of Louisiana's six incumbent members of Congress.
"I am running for Congress because we need a leader in Washington D.C. that we can actually be proud of," Hoggatt said in a statement. "Leaders in our communities encouraged me to run because they agree with that.
More: Louisiana congressional incumbents roll into qualifying with $14 million, status quo map
"Higgins’ candidacy is weakened because he hasn’t delivered for our people on storm recovery, or infrastructure. He’s had pitiful fundraising. I will bring real Acadiana values with me to get the job done.”
Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District includes most of Acadiana and southwestern Louisiana with Lafayette and Lake Charles as the population hubs.
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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: Clay Higgins faces surprise GOP challenger, but party endorses incumbent
