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Gary Chambers
Gary Chambers (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Louisiana. He lost in the primary on November 8, 2022.
Elections
2022
See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2022
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate Louisiana
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. Senate Louisiana on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Neely Kennedy (R) | 61.6 | 851,568 |
 | Gary Chambers (D) | 17.9 | 246,933 | |
 | Luke Mixon (D)  | 13.2 | 182,887 | |
 | Syrita Steib (D) | 2.3 | 31,568 | |
 | Devin Lance Graham (R) | 1.8 | 25,275 | |
 | M.V. Mendoza (D) | 0.9 | 11,910 | |
 | Beryl Billiot (Independent) | 0.7 | 9,378 | |
 | Salvador Rodriguez (D) | 0.6 | 7,767 | |
 | Bradley McMorris (Independent) | 0.4 | 5,388 | |
 | Aaron Sigler (L) | 0.4 | 4,865 | |
 | Xan John (Independent) | 0.2 | 2,753 | |
 | W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,676 | |
| Thomas Wenn (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,322 | ||
| Total votes: 1,383,290 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Albert Kyder (R)
2021
See also: Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District special election, 2021
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
General election
Special general election for U.S. House Louisiana District 2
Troy Carter defeated Karen Peterson in the special general election for U.S. House Louisiana District 2 on April 24, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Troy Carter (D) | 55.2 | 48,513 |
 | Karen Peterson (D) | 44.8 | 39,297 | |
| Total votes: 87,810 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Special nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 2
The following candidates ran in the special primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 2 on March 20, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Troy Carter (D) | 36.4 | 34,402 |
| ✔ | | Karen Peterson (D) | 22.9 | 21,673 |
| Gary Chambers (D) | 21.3 | 20,163 | |
 | Claston Bernard (R) | 9.8 | 9,237 | |
 | Chelsea Ardoin (R) | 3.4 | 3,218 | |
 | Greg Lirette (R) | 2.5 | 2,349 | |
| Sheldon Vincent Sr. (R) | 0.8 | 754 | ||
 | Desiree Ontiveros (D) | 0.7 | 699 | |
 | Belden Batiste (Independent) | 0.6 | 598 | |
| Harold John (D) | 0.4 | 403 | ||
 | Mindy McConnell (L) | 0.3 | 323 | |
 | J. Christopher Johnson (D) | 0.3 | 288 | |
| Jenette Porter (D) | 0.3 | 244 | ||
| Lloyd Kelly (D) | 0.1 | 122 | ||
 | Brandon Jolicoeur (Independent) | 0.1 | 94 | |
| Total votes: 94,567 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2019
See also: Louisiana State Senate elections, 2019
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Louisiana State Senate District 15
Incumbent Regina Ashford Barrow won election outright against Gary Chambers in the primary for Louisiana State Senate District 15 on October 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Regina Ashford Barrow (D) | 74.5 | 22,840 |
| Gary Chambers (D) | 25.5 | 7,819 | |
| Total votes: 30,659 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gary Chambers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Chambers' campaign website stated the following:
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Issue: In 2021, Louisiana ranked 46th in Healthcare. Contributing to this low ranking is the lack of public health funding, the lack of access to care, the high number of uninsured, and the poor overall quality of care. Gary believes that Louisianans’ health is the foundation of a better Louisiana. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic illustrated what Black Americans already knew– that the American healthcare system is woefully inadequate. Leaders around the world, on the continent of Africa and in countries such as Japan, quickly adopted public health measures to save thousands, if not millions of lives. Though COVID-19 is a new crisis, the health disparities highlighted by it is nothing new for Black Louisiana. As we stretch into our third year in a pandemic, with continued waves of lockdowns as new variants infect our population, it is clear that we are still woefully unprepared as a state and a nation to effectively deliver healthcare solutions to our communities. Currently, Louisiana ranks 46th out of 50 for healthcare, 49th in infant mortality, 49th for mental health, and 50th for preventable admissions. Louisiana has a 38.1% obesity rate, 14% diabetes rate, and ranks 50th amongst all states in healthcare challenges. Notably, health disparities also exist in maternal health with a maternal mortality rate of 20.1 per 100,000 births. Driving that number is the health disparities that exist between Black and white Louisianans. We must do better! Black Lives depend upon it, and Gary is committed to addressing these disparities to ensure a healthier Louisiana. So, where do we go from here? A healthier Louisiana or continue along this chaotic path? To get us from the figurative bottom of the map, health inequalities must be addressed, because when we take care of the least of us, we take care of us all! Gary uses the quote, “In God we trust, but everybody else must bring data.” Why? Because the data tells us that to address the inequalities in the current healthcare system, a community-based health care model must be adopted. Gary is committed to advocating for and passing legislation for the following priorities: 1. Medicare for All A single-payer healthcare system, also known as Medicare for All. The time for debate around this measure has long since passed. It is clear that we need to overhaul the health insurance industry to ensure that all Americans are able to afford healthcare. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. 2. Community-based health centers Advocating for and finding federal dollars to erect and fund community-based health centers in underserved Louisiana communities. Gary believes that healthcare must be accessible to all Louisianans. Healthcare access includes but is not limited to: mental health access and affordable prescription drugs. Gary is committed to ensuring not only funding for the centers but also for community-based health initiatives that recognize that:
3. Maternal and infant health The maternal and infant health of Black families is a major concern to Gary. Louisiana’s maternal mortality rate for Black women is 72.6 for every 100,000 births. Gary will consult with culturally competent experts to advise him on how to best address this healthcare crisis. Gary is additionally committed to:
4. Prescription drug cost The average retail price for insulin rose 54% from 2014 to 2019. From January 2020 to October 2021, those prices have decreased only about 5%. 18 million Americans can’t afford needed medications. The pharmaceutical industry is out of control and needs to be reined in from its unacceptable price gouging. Gary is committed to:
LOUISIANA ranks 45th in Education and 49th in Opportunity! In the famous text, The Pedagogy of the Oppressed author Richard Shaull states:
Gary believes that free and appropriate public education and job skills training are the passport to the future. He believes in public education and/or a job skills training system that fully prepares all citizens to solve the issues of their community and allows them to compete in the world. Hence, Gary believes in and will advocate for: 1. Free Higher Education and Job Skills Training Free Higher Education and Job Skills training at all institutions of higher education and job skills training facilities for those in need. 2. Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Gary will advocate for and vote to pass student loan debt forgiveness for those persons with student loan debt. 3. Fully Funded Free and Appropriate Public School System Gary’s mother is a retired public school teacher and his father a retired public school employee. He believes in the power of a fully-funded public education system. Specifically, Gary will advocate for the COMPLETE autonomous return and funding of Orleans Parish Public School System, using a Community Schools Model. Gary isn’t against the charter system but believes we must follow the data and the research. The data shows us that public education works in white and/or affluent neighborhoods. Why does it not work in Black and/or other oppressed neighborhoods? It can and it must. Gary will advocate for a complete overhaul of the Orleans Parish Public School System, an overhaul that renews the community’s faith in the public school system by providing a safe, fully funded, academically rigorous, innovative learning experience with highly-qualified educators. 4. Abolish High Stakes Testing Gary believes that high stakes testing should be abolished. Teaching for standardized testing isn’t working, and we need our teachers to not feel as if their job is tied to a number. Furthermore, all students do not learn at the same pace, nor is it appropriate to use the same pedagogy on all children. Gary believes we need to establish more time on teaching and less time on testing. Teachers should have the ability to differentiate instruction with individual student success in mind rather than teaching to a blueprint based on standardized testing that utilizes a one-size-fits-all instruction model. 5. Funding for S.T.E.A.M. More funding for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (S.T.E.A.M). Gary believes in S.T.E.M, but he also believes in the Arts. As a trained singer and musician, Gary understands that the arts are a part of a complete society and therefore must be a part of our children’s global education. Thus, he will advocate for and support legislation that ensures the funding of the Arts in America’s public schools. 6. Recruit & Retain Black Male Teachers Gary doesn’t believe in reinventing the wheel. Bowie State—a Historically Black University—is doing a great job at recruiting, training and retaining Black male teachers. Their program should be considered a national model. Gary will advocate for federal funding for the recruitment and subsidizing of Black male teachers in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Gary believes that if we can send—and subsidize—young white teachers to Black neighborhoods to teach our children with tax-funded programs, then we can also fund Black male teachers to do the same. Research indicates that children perform better when the teacher shares that child’s race, ethnicity, culture, and language. 7. Fully Funded HBCUs More equitable funding for Historical Black Colleges and Universities like The Southern University System, Xavier University, Grambling University, Dillard University and many more. Currently, HBCUs graduates make up 40% of the members of Congress, 12.5% of the CEOs, 40% of the engineers, 50% of the professors at non-HBCUs, 50% of the lawyers, and 80% of the judges throughout the nation. And let’s not forget an HBCU graduate currently holds the title of Vice President of the United States of America. Therefore, it is imperative that we fully fund HBCUs equitably; 8. Satellite College Campuses in the River Parishes Gary has heard the voice of the people in the River Parishes. A part of Gary’s educational priorities is to advocate for and find federal funding to support the creation of satellite college campuses in the River Parish communities. Gary will work with community colleges and universities in Louisiana to provide the constituents of the river parishes with affordable trade certifications, associates degrees and other educational opportunities. Gary understands that just as education and training are important, so is access to affordable education and training
America was based on the ideal that if you work hard, you and your family will be able to thrive. But we see too often Louisianians working two or three jobs barely making ends meet. Unlivable wages, inflation, and a profits over people mentality have stalled a strong and burgeoning middle class in Louisiana. As in so many categories, Louisiana ranks among the lowest of all the states in economy and infrastructure at 47th out of 50. Gary is committed to ensuring Louisiana has an economy that is built to benefit everyone, not just a select few at the top. Louisiana is caught in a struggle where working people are bearing the brunt of a struggling economy. The state of Louisiana does not have a state minimum wage, giving employees in our state the national minimum wage of $7.25/hr. Louisiana has the second highest percentage of workers in the nation paid this abysmal wage. This rate is simply unlivable, and needs to change nationally so that we can all prosper. Income inequality in Louisiana ranks the second highest in the nation. Contributing factors to this include globalization and lack of community development, lack of technological advancement, a stagnant minimum wage, disparities in tax contributions and the decline of labor unions. Gary is committed to building an economy that works for all Lousianians, not just those at the top. 1. Gary is a vehement supporter of worker’s rights and the right for labor to organize. With Louisiana’s economy revolving around agriculture and energy, the workforces powering these industries have the right to collectively bargain for fair pay, safe work conditions and appropriate leave time. That is why Gary is a supporter of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. This critical piece of legislation significantly strengthens the ability of workers in the private sector to form unions and engage in collective bargaining for better working conditions and fair wages. 2. Gary supports raising the national minimum wage to ensure that Louisianans have a livable income. Louisiana ranks 43rd in household income with many working multiple jobs just to get by. By adopting a $15/hour minimum wage, working families will have the opportunity to earn a living wage and through that, are afforded more economic freedom. With this, they will be able to start businesses, pay off debt, buy homes and ultimately revitalize a stagnant economy. 3. Gary supports the Real Corporate Profits Tax Act of 2021 to make sure the wealthiest companies pay their fair share. The disparity in household income and income inequality, ranked 2nd in the nation, in Louisiana can not be more glaring. Gary’s conviction that a strong economy is built from a strong working class is the basis for making corporations and the ultra wealthy pay their fair share through the Real Corporate Profits Tax Act of 2021. It makes no sense that working families are paying more in taxes than some of the wealthiest individuals and companies in the country. This is a major opportunity to reinvest in our communities to give them the social and economic services they deserve, bolstering Main Street over Wall Street.
According to a report published by the Louisiana Section of American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE), the state of Louisiana received a D+ in infrastructure. The following list includes each area of Louisiana’s infrastructure and the grades assigned to each:
Louisiana ranks 47th in economy and infrastructure and 48th in opportunity. In 2018, the median household income of the 250,000 people in the 2nd Congressional District was $38,131. Of that sample, the largest share of the population made less than $10,000 a year. A report conducted by the American Lung Association also found that several cities in Louisiana have some of the nation’s most widespread air pollution. Gary understands that the failing state of Louisiana’s infrastructure is literally killing people and must be overhauled, providing challenges as well as opportunity. Creating healthy communities allows Lousisians to prosper and that means having access to clean air and water and updating our crumbling infrastructure. With this challenge, we also have the opportunity to create thousands of good paying jobs to build the next generation of infrastructure in Louisiana. While passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in 2022 was a start, Gary believes that we cannot squander this once in a generation opportunity to help lift up Louisiana. Creating bold, resilient infrastructure projects to help connect our communities and keep them safe is the objective. Infrastructure built by and for Louisianians will help put people to work and create safer, healthier communities. Investing in this generation’s infrastructure is critical. Better public transit systems, regional rail to connect our communities and give people access to good paying jobs, and investing in alternative energy sources to preserve our planet are key ideas within the conversation on the next generation of infrastructure. Gary is committed to advocating for and passing legislation for the following priorities:
Gun violence in America is a problem that cannot be ignored. Year after year, decade after decade, we experience the constant trauma of gun violence. In our neighborhoods, in grocery stores, in movie theaters, in concerts, in schools. Gun violence this year has been particularly painful. The killing of 10 innocent civilians grocery shopping in Buffalo was a harsh reminder of the ways guns can be tools of racism and domestic terrorism. The killing of 19 young children and two teachers in Uvalde rocked parents across the nation to their cores, and has to be a call to action that we cannot accept the status quo on gun measures. As all of these horrors continue to unfold throughout the country, in Louisiana, a mere day after the tragedy in Texas, lawmakers held a hearing for House Bill 37 which would allow for concealed carry in the state without a permit. Texas passed a similar measure in September and has seen 19 mass shootings so far this year per the Gun Violence Archive. In spite of all of the death and destruction around us, we still fail to pass the common sense gun reforms needed to protect ourselves and our children. Gary is a gun owner who supports the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. But he is also a parent, a son, a grocery store shopper, a movie goer, a concert attender, and so many more things, who knows we need gun control reform. Gary is committed to passing common sense gun control policies to protect our children and our communities in Louisiana and across the country. 1. Gary would work to enact background checks on all gun sales. As federal law currently stands, while licensed gun dealers are required to conduct background checks, numerous unlicensed dealers are not held to the same standards, providing loopholes that give access to guns to abusers and people with troubling histories. 2. Gary would support legislation to create federal waiting periods for the purchase of guns. Waiting period laws ensure that individuals who are purchasing guns have to wait for a reasonable period of time to receive their firearm. These laws provide individuals going through crises when purchasing their weapons a moment to cool off and possibly decide against any drastic plans they may have had for their gun. 3. Gary would support bans of the sale of military-grade weapons. The only purpose of a military-grade assault weapon is to harm other humans. You cannot use an assault weapon for hunting. According to Everytown research: “In the 12 years from 2009 to 2020, there were at least 30 mass shootings (16 percent of those with known weapon data) that involved the use of an assault weapon, resulting in 347 deaths and 719 injuries. In other words, mass shootings that involved an assault weapon accounted for 25 percent of all mass shootings deaths and 76 percent of injuries.” We need to get these weapons out of the hands of those who would perpetrate these crimes. Both the shooter in Buffalo and the shooter in Uvalde used assault weapons.
According to US News, Louisiana ranks 50th in crime and corrections. Contributing to this low ranking is high incarceration rates for adults, above-average incarceration rates for juveniles, and a high violent crime rate. Gary believes that the creation and enforcement of federal standards applicable to all state and local law enforcement agencies are not only critical only for a safer America, but also for a citizenry that respects and trusts their law enforcement professionals. Gary is committed to advocating for and passing legislation for the following priorities: 1. Create the Federal Community Public Safety Agency (CPSA). Gary supports the BREATHE ACT put forth by the Electoral Justice Project of the Movement for Black Lives. The BREATHE ACT calls for the creation of a Federal Community Public Safety Agency (CPSA) at the Department of Health and Human Services. Gary will advocate for and vote to pass legislation to create that department. This agency will examine and review state and local police forces that have abused their power and look for alternative means to reimagine the relationship between communities of color and their local police departments. We must reimagine and create a new criminal “just” system. 2. Demilitarization of the Police When analyzing the most notable mass protests in America, the optics, including the presence of militarized state and local law enforcement agencies, was due to a well-funded military-industrial complex during the Global War on Terror. The United States allotted billions of dollars towards the use of excess military weapons, vehicles, and hardware. Unfortunately, this military equipment ended up on our city streets in the hands of local law enforcement, accounting for the DOD 1033 Excess Use Program that was responsible for the phenomenon of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) tanks, high powered rifles, and machine guns being used in botched raids and assaults on unsuspecting and innocent American civilians. Military equipment does not belong in the hands of civilians, which includes civilian law enforcement. In order for our police to function at all as local law enforcement, they have to stop showing up in our communities looking like soldiers ready to conquer a foreign enemy. Gary would call for the end of the DoD 1033 Excess Use Program and supports a federal ban on the use of military weapons, equipment, and vehicles except for in hostage, terrorist, and mass casualty situations. 3. Smart Funding of Law Enforcement There have been many calls for the defunding of the police. However, police officers are put into a myriad of situations where public safety and public health may be at risk. Therefore, Gary understands that defunding in the strictest definition of the term may not be the best solution and instead advocates for a “smart funding” of the police. Smart funding is an innovative funding mechanism that uses a formula based upon objective quality-of-life factors. Citizens want the best law enforcement service their tax dollars can buy, however, when unarmed and innocent citizens are killed, tax dollars that could pay for better community services must then pay for lengthy and costly lawsuits against the city and its officers. Gary would call for law enforcement agencies to demonstrate their use of training that implements standardized quality-of-life factors into policing in order for them to qualify for federal funding. 4. Refunding Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Programs Louisiana currently has deficit-based juvenile justice programs. Instead of rehabilitating our children to become productive citizens after making a mistake, we are preparing our children for a life of institutionalization and incarceration. Gary would call for more funding for juvenile delinquency programs that provide holistic support to children in the juvenile justice system and their families. 5. Legalization of Marijuana Lastly, we must fully legalize marijuana at the state and federal level. Gary will advocate for and vote to pass legislation that will allow for the tax revenues created from the sale of marijuana to fund reparations programs for Black Americans. Additionally, all individuals incarcerated for nonviolent marijuana offenses should be released and their records expunged. It is unjust to see people profit in the cannabis industry while regular, mostly Black, Americans are still incarcerated for doing the same thing. No race has been more negatively impacted by America’s “War on Drugs”, therefore it is merely restorative justice to ensure Black Americans see their tax dollars reinvested in their communities.
Women, and all others that have the capability to bear children, have a right to reproductive freedom which is critical for countries around the world to uphold. In 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade granting the right to have an abortion under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, balancing the viability of the fetus in the third trimester. Since the Court’s decision, states across the country have slowly begun to chip away at this right that even international courts hold to be important. In Louisiana, we rank 46th in reproductive rights and 49th in health and well-being. If someone wants to get an abortion in Louisiana, they must do so before they reach 22 weeks into their pregnancy. They have to undergo state-directed counseling designed to discourage abortions and then they have to wait an additional 24 hours before they have access to the procedure. They must undergo an ultrasound and see the fetus prior to the abortion. The provider is required to describe to them the fetus. If they have health insurance from the state’s health care marketplace, their abortion will not be covered. These standards are unnecessary, burdensome, and cruel, but they won’t even matter if Roe v. Wade gets overturned by the Courts since Louisiana will ban abortion if they can. Gary is committed to protecting reproductive freedom and preserving the right to choose. 1. Gary would work to codify Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive rights across the United States. Gary supports measures like the Women’s Health Protection Act which codify Roe v. Wade’s provisions into law and ensure that people have access to abortions until the fetus is viable. The Women’s Health Protection Act would have additionally outlawed other measures like mandatory ultrasounds, biased counseling, and waiting periods all of which directly affect Louisianans access to abortions. 2. Gary would vote to repeal the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment which bans the use of federal funds to pay for an abortion except to save a woman’s life or in the case of incest or rape needs to be repealed. Women have the right to choose, and we need to ensure that all people have access to all of the healthcare that they need. Abortions are healthcare. 3. Gary would vote to fully fund Planned Parenthood, Title X, and other initiatives that protect people’s access to reproductive healthcare including contraception, STI testing, and abortion services. Reproductive rights don’t just include abortion, but also access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. Ensuring that Planned Parenthood is fully funded to distribute the full spectrum of healthcare services that they offer is critical, as is continuing to fund Title X. Contraception, STI testing, and general reproductive health are critical to maintaining our broader health.
Gary believes that the United States Constitution provides equal protection under the law, for all people within the borders of the United States. He believes that members of the LGBTQ+ community should unequivocally be afforded the same protections as any other person in the United States. The rise of LGBTQ+ prejudice across the United States is deeply concerning. With the passage of the Don’t Say Gay Bill in Florida, the rise in trans hate spurred by Governor Abbott in Texas, and the recent submission of a Don’t Say Gay Bill in the Lousiana House is deeply concerning and showcases the continued need for advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ+ individuals on the national, state, and local stages. Furthermore, Gary is deeply concerned about the disproportionate killings of Black Trans and Non-Gender Conforming people in the United States. Brayla Stone, Merci Mack, Shakiie Peters, Draya McCary, Tatiana Hall, and Bree Black’s lives mattered. Gary will support and vote for any legislation that classifies persons of the LBGTQ community as a protected class of citizens. There are approximately 165,000 LGBTQ+ individuals living in Louisiana and Gary intends to ensure they get the support they need. Gary is committed to advocating for and passing legislation for the following priorities:
On February 7, 2019, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a house resolution that would address communities in America’s critical infrastructure and health concerns by finally focusing on the environmental issues faced by the United States. That resolution is commonly referred to as the Green New Deal. The Green New Deal seeks to abolish systemic injustices in the following areas: clean environment, infrastructure and high paying jobs. Gary believes that the Green New Deal provides an opportunity and a blueprint for Louisiana to put people in the state back to work and to fix our crumbling infrastructure. A. Environmental Justice: Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Included in these parishes is an area known around the world as “Cancer Alley.” Cancer Alley runs along the Mississippi River, which includes parts if not all of the above mentioned cities and parishes. Scholar and activist, Steve Lerner, referred to these types of areas as Sacrifice Zones. Sacrifice Zones are often “fenceline communities” consisting of low-income and/or people of color. They are considered “hot spots” of chemical pollution where residents live immediately adjacent to heavily polluted industries. Cancer Alley has more than 140 chemical factories and oil refineries. Gary is committed to advocating for and passing legislation for the following priorities:
B. Infrastructure: Community Development Block Grant Funding (Re-imagined) Over the years Community Development Block Grants has garnered a bad reputation as “free money,” because the perception is that it is not fulfilling its mission of eradicating poverty in urban and rural communities. Though some of these claims may have merit, the intent of the grant remains pure: to prevent a major increase in poverty rates, a deprecating built environment, and an unskilled workforce. In accordance with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ Green New Deal resolution–which calls for investment in economic development, green building, transit and education. Gary will call for an immediate re-allocation of community development funding to eliminate the financial vacuum caused by the de-industrialization of rural and urban communities. Furthermore, Gary will collaborate with the “new” working class that will be created through implementation of the Green New Deal. According to the Bureau of Transportation, households with an annual income of less than $25,000 are almost nine times as likely to be a zero-vehicle household than households with incomes greater than $25,000. Given these statistics and recent migration patterns, it can be argued that transportation–public or private– is vital to upward mobility for at-risk populations. These changes will require not only adequate federal funding–but also a retooled, educated workforce that will utilize public transportation to commute to city centers and to attend school and work. Gary will advocate for, and vote to pass legislation that will reallocate federal transportation spending to ensure equity in funding public transit in Louisiana. In addition, the utilization of this funding will help bring U.S. gas emissions to net zero by 2030, through clean, renewable, energy sources. Gary will also advocate for the restructuring of legislation that allows for a more flexible local match requirement for transit projects. For nearly four decades, federal funding on transportation has been 80% highway and 20% transit. This algorithm places an undue burden on urban and rural communities, and Gary will seek to undo this disparity.
America is a country built on stolen land and founded by immigrants using the labor of enslaved people. Gary has been sickened by the practices of our Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement body, which saw Trump era empowerment that has still not been fully dismantled under the Biden administration. In 2020, detained Black women were forcefully sterilized while being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Black Cameroonian asylum seekers also outcried alleged torture into signing their own deportation orders. In fact, human rights protests broke out here in Louisiana because Black detainees alleged that they were being treated differently than detainees from Latin American countries. This isn’t just poor Republican immigration policy, this is simply poor American immigration policy. Gary is committed to advocating for and passing legislation for the following priorities:
Martin Luther King Jr. gave two pivotal speeches during his lifetime addressing foreign policy: “Why I Oppose the Vietnam War” on April 30, 1967, and “The Three Evils” at the Hungry Club Forum in Atlanta on May 10, 1967. Those three evils were the evils of racism, poverty and war. Dr. King knew that both greed and racism contributed to the endless wars abroad and that if America was to change for the better, her citizens would have to address the disproportionate funding of the military versus other critical needs such as education and healthcare. Currently, the military budget is $778 billion, while the education budget is $92.75 billion and the Health and Human Services budget is roughly $131.8 billion. Gary respects the human rights of every person on this planet and respects the sovereign rights of every nation, large or small. Gary understands the responsibility he might assume as a Senator to decide whether America should engage in war. Gary will not take that responsibility lightly, nor will he fall in line as others have done in the past. He will ensure that all non-military efforts have been taken before he votes for America to engage in war. Gary is committed to advocating for and passing legislation for the following priorities: Gary believes in taking care of home first and holds the position that a significant portion of the military budget should be reallocated to domestic and non-military centered departments and policies, such as the H.R. 4864 Global Child Thrive Act of 2020. The Global Child Thrive Act of 2020 promotes early childhood development and adds to existing U.S. plans and strategies to improve coordination with foreign governments and international and regional organizations. It was passed by the House and the Senate and is empowering USAID to help children around the world. Resolutions such as these provide aid rather than bombs thus protecting our troops, investing in education, healthcare, and creating healthy relationships with other nations and their citizens. If given the opportunity, Gary would vote for similar programs. Gary is also a proponent of nuclear disarmament and would support legislation that diverts funds away from the United States Nuclear Modernization and Replacement Program. The United States currently maintains a nuclear arsenal of about 1,650 strategic nuclear warheads. This number cannot continue to increase. A 2017 Congressional Budget Office report estimates that these nuclear weapons will cost taxpayers $1.2 trillion between fiscal years 2017 and 2046. These funds can be reallocated to programs that support nonmilitary based solutions to our international conflicts. Gary supports the current sanctions and measured nonviolent response to the incursion on the state of Ukraine by Russia. The crisis in Ukraine, spurred by the actions of a totalitarian dictatorship in Russia are detestable and deserve the global community’s complete nonviolent opposition at present. Gary supports the US measures to sanction Russia and its leadership in order to apply pressure to cease this invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory. Gary opposes the use of force by the US military in the conflict in Ukraine at present, but endorses aid being offered to the country to support its people. Gary additionally supports measures to help Ukrainian refugees as they disperse across the globe in the wake of this crisis, and additionally calls on Ukraine and the rest of Europe to cease any discrimination against Black refugees from Ukraine who have thus far not been treated with the civility and humanity they deserve. [2][1] |
” |
| —Gary Chambers' campaign website (2022)[2] | ||
2021
Gary Chambers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gary Chambers did not complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. Senate Louisiana |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Gary Chambers for Louisiana, “Priorities,” accessed August 8, 2022
