Governor Landry ‘Soros, far left liberal money’ are why voters rejected Amendment 2

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed disappointment after voters rejected a constitutional amendment he said would have been a game changer for the state.

Although there were four amendments on the ballot, Amendment 2 seems to be the one the governor hoped to pass, as it was the only one his message addressed.

Many decried the amendment from the start, and a group of residents filed suit to get it removed from the ballot. The Louisiana Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit, a move the governor applauded, but then came election day, and a higher-than-expected voter turnout would lead to an overwhelming no vote.

In a statement issued Saturday night, the governor said, “The primary goal of Amendment 2 was to create a better opportunity for our citizens. To work toward inviting people into our State rather than have them leave. Unfortunately, Soros and far left liberals poured millions into Louisiana with propaganda and outright lies about Amendment 2,” Governor Landry said. “Although we are disappointed in tonight’s results, we do not see this as a failure. We realized how hard positive change can be to implement in a State that is conditioned for failure. We will continue working to give our citizens more opportunities to keep more of their hard-earned money and provide a better future for the Louisianans. This is not the end for us we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed.”

The portion of the governor’s response that credits the amendment’s failure to George Soros, the GOP supervillain who pours mountains of money into elections to skew votes toward his ultra-liberal world desires, keeps the political boogeyman alive. However, the Louisiana Illuminator reported that spending favoring Amendment 2 outpaced “vote no” spending. They also noted that donations made in support or opposition to amendment votes in Louisiana do not have the same strict ethics reporting rules. So maybe Soros’s money did infiltrate and infect the election. Or maybe Louisiana voters want their state’s governing body to do its job – govern.

Giving the 94-year-old Soros so much credit is to ignore the influence and loud opposition of former Louisiana Legislator Woody Jenkins, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, or Representative Tammy Phelps, and others from both sides of the aisle who did not support the amendment for one reason or another. It also ignores that some who voted to elect the governor in November 2023 could also vote to reject his rejection of a constitutional convention, instead opting for this amendment vote. Elections have consequences.

The eleventh-hour request by Louisiana’s most famous business owner, Curtis James Jackson, who also goes by the moniker “50 Cent”, did not go well with voters or over their heads. The seemingly apolitical Jackson has mainly been absent since his Humor & Harmony Festival last August. Still, he supported the amendment through a text and email campaign, causing social media users to question his timing and the reason why.

The No to Them All Coalition also said, “This is a win for the people of Louisiana. Voters saw through the smoke and mirrors and saw that these amendments were not written with our interests at heart. Tonight’s vote sends a resounding message that the agenda behind these amendments never had a mandate and that voters are sick of being lied to, shut out, and taken for granted. If our elected leaders want to make changes to our constitution in the future, we, the people of Louisiana, have two words of advice for them, “Do Better.”

The Louisiana Legislature will convene on April 14, 2025.

The outcome of this election indicates that the Louisiana residents elected them to do the heavy lifting. They were not elected to place complicated tax code changes on the backs of taxpayers. Residents want a state that works for them, not just big business buddies that pop in and out for photo ops with shovels or ribbons.

State computer systems are dated, potholes and litter adorn state roadways, car insurance is highest nationally, and schools are underperforming despite the gains made by some. Louisiana historically ranks last in quality of life and first in things that will kill you. Let’s make this next legislative session great by putting down the performative party masks and listening to hardworking Louisianans who want to care for their families, live their American Dreams, and leave a little something behind for the next generation.