The nine candidates vying for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District seat have either been confirmed or invited to participate in a Baton Rouge Press Club forum at noon on Oct. 26 at Drusilla Place Catering. They are:
- Stewart Cathey, Republican, is a state senator from Monroe and chair of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development Committee.
- Misti Cordell, Republican from Monroe, is chair of the Louisiana Board of Regents.
- Oscar Omar Dantzler, Republican from Hammond, is a former police officer and candidate for governor.
- Michael Echols, Republican, is a state representative from Monroe and chair of the House Republican delegation.
- Gabe Firment, Republican, is a state representative from Pollock and chair of the House insurance committee.
- Austin Magee, Republican, is a business owner and graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University.
- Dan McKay, Democrat, is a lawyer from Bunkie and an Army veteran.
- Pat Moore, Democrat from Monroe, is retired from State Farm Insurance and has been a state representative since 2019.
- Antonio Wilson, Democrat from Tallulah, is a building contractor and business owner.
The forum will start at noon and conclude at 1 p.m.
Drusilla Place Catering is located at the Drusilla Shopping Center at Drusilla Drive and Jefferson Hwy. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and news reporters are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program. Lunch is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers.
For later viewing, Louisiana Public Broadcasting provides a video of the Press Club meetings on its YouTube channel.