State Sen. Elbert Guillory of Opelousas switched back to the Republican Party today, making the announcement at a conference for black conservatives in Baton Rouge.
Photo by Robin May
State Sen. Elbert Guillory of Opelousas switched back to the Republican Party today, making the announcement at a conference for black conservatives in Baton Rouge.
The right-leaning lawmaker bolted the Republican Party in 2007 to run for the state House of Representatives in Dem-leaning St. Landry Parish, a move now confirmed as mere opportunism; Guillory has a fairly consistent conservative record in the Legislature, siding with Gov. Bobby Jindal on many contentious issues. The switch back to the GOP likely jeopardizes Guillory's electoral future in St. Landry Parish, where black Democrats have held sway for decades.
In a press release issued shortly after Guillory announced the switch, the Democratic Party of Louisiana was less than cordial in its snarky "fond farewell" to the departing senator:
Guillory's Party Affiliation Finally Matches His Hostility Towards the Working Families of Acadiana
The Louisiana Democratic Party today wished Elbert Guillory a fond farewell as the former Republican returned to the Party of scandal-plagued Bobby Jindal and Tea Party extremists that have opposed equal pay for women and expanded access to health insurance for working families.
"In a craven display of political opportunism, Elbert Guillory today rejoined the Party that has stood with Bobby Jindal's failed policies and against the working families of Acadiana," said Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk. "This move isn't surprising given Guillory's record of saying one thing to his constituents and then voting another way.
"The people of the 24th Senate District deserve better than Elbert Guillory. He should do the right thing and step down from his seat immediately since he has chosen to abandon the Democratic Party values that the voters elected him to represent."