State Treasurer candidate John Fleming claims that Julia Letlow’s entrance into the U.S. Senate race is part of a grand plan by Governor Jeff Landry to appoint himself as a U.S. Senator. Fleming described this alleged scheme with reporters after he qualified for the Senate Republican primary.
“Multiple people have told me that this is kind of a bank shot; that one day when he is finished being governor, that he could then rearrange the chairs on the deck, he could appoint himself to the Senate, and he could appoint her to be the head of a college, which is something she’s always wanted to do,” Fleming said.
Landry shot back at Fleming by saying anyone who makes stuff up like that may not be fit for office.
Fleming was the first candidate to announce he was challenging incumbent Bill Cassidy in the state’s new closed party primary for federal elections. Letlow didn’t announce her candidacy until last month, after she received an endorsement from President Trump. Fleming, who worked in the Trump Administration in his first term in office, believes the President’s endorsement should not be a factor in this race.
“I don’t think politicians should be choosing who represents you in Washington. I think you, the voters, should be choosing,” Fleming noted.
In an interview with the USA Today Network, Governor Landry called Fleming’s theory ridiculous and said Fleming should concentrate on the job he was elected to do and that’s State Treasurer. Landry also told the USA Today Network he intends to finish the job he was elected to do. But Fleming stands by his belief that the governor’s plan is for Letlow to be elected to the Senate, she would eventually leave the Senate and Landry could appoint himself U.S. Senator.
“I just don’t think that the elite in our state, those who are in high office, should be making these determinations on your behalf. I think these are decisions you should make,” Fleming said.