Jamie LaBranche
Jamie LaBranche (independent) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Louisiana. He declared candidacy as a write-in for the 2026 election.[source]
LaBranche completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
LaBranche was a Republican candidate for Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture in the 2015 election. He announced his candidacy on November 18, 2014. He lost to Republican incumbent Michael Strain in the blanket primary on October 24, 2015.[1][2] He was also a 2011 Democratic candidate for Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture, losing to incumbent Strain in the October 22, 2011, blanket primary.[3][4]
In March 2024, LaBranche contacted Ballotpedia to announce that he switched his party affiliation to Democrat.[5]
Biography
LaBranche is a licensed arborist and horticulturist who specializes in medicinal agriculture.[3][1]
Elections
2026
See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2026
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
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. Senate Louisiana
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Louisiana on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Bill Cassidy (R) | |
 | Randall Arrington (R)  | |
 | John Fleming (R) | |
 | Chris Holder (R) | |
 | Xan John (R) | |
 | Blake Miguez (R) | |
 | Joshua Morott (R) | |
 | Kathy Seiden (R) | |
 | Samuel Wyatt (R) | |
 | Jamie LaBranche (Independent) (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = 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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Endorsements
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2015
LaBranche ran for the office of Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture in the 2015 election.[1] This was a rematch between LaBranche and incumbent Commissioner Michael Strain, although now LaBranche is registered as a Republican. The two also faced Democrat Charles Greer and Green Party candidate Adrian Juttner.[6] The primary election occurred on October 24, 2015.[7]
LaBranch was unsuccessful, receiving 8.2 percent of the vote. Despite there being four candidates on the primary ballot, incumbent Commissioner Mike Strain won a majority of votes, eliminating the need for a general election contest in November.[2]
| Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture, Blanket Primary, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Mike Strain |
58.2% | 603,557 | |
| Democratic | Charles Greer | 30.1% | 312,335 | |
| Republican | Jamie LaBranche | 8.2% | 85,363 | |
| Green | Adrian Juttner | 3.5% | 36,180 | |
| Total Votes | 1,037,435 | |||
| Election Results Louisiana Secretary of State. | ||||
Campaign finance
Third quarter report (2015)
Comprehensive donor information for this election was collected from the state's campaign finance authority. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $534,750 and spent a total of $20,861.83 during this reporting period. This information was last updated on September 25, 2015.[8]
| Campaign Contributions and Expenditures | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Beginning balance | Contributions | Expenditures | Ending balance |
Michael Strain  |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $502,250.46 | $534,750.00 | $20,861.83 | $1,016,138.63 |
| Jamie LaBranche |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Grand Total Raised | $534,750 | ||||
| Grand Total Spent | $20,861.83 | ||||
Second quarter report (2015)
Comprehensive donor information for this election was collected from the state's campaign finance authority. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $39,875 and spent a total of $6,607.88 during this reporting period. This information was last updated on September 25, 2015.[9]
| Campaign Contributions and Expenditures | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Beginning balance | Contributions | Expenditures | Ending balance |
| Michael Strain |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $468,983.34 | $39,875.00 | $6,607.88 | $502,250.46 |
| Jamie LaBranche |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Grand Total Raised | $39,875 | ||||
| Grand Total Spent | $6,607.88 | ||||
First quarter report (2015)
Comprehensive donor information for this election was collected from the state's campaign finance authority. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $38,110 and spent a total of $26,530.81 during this reporting period. This information was last updated on September 25, 2015.[10]
| Campaign Contributions and Expenditures | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Beginning balance | Contributions | Expenditures | Ending balance |
| Michael Strain |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $457,404.15 | $38,100.00 | $26,520.81 | $468,983.34 |
| Jamie LaBranche |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $0.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Grand Total Raised | $38,110 | ||||
| Grand Total Spent | $26,530.81 | ||||
Annual report (2014)
Comprehensive donor information for this election was collected from the state's campaign finance authority. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $1,200 and spent a total of $2,500 during this reporting period. This information was last updated on February 19, 2015.[11]
| Campaign Contributions and Expenditures | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Beginning balance | Contributions | Expenditures | Ending balance |
| Michael Strain |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $3,654.49 | $1,200 | $2,500 | $2,354.49 |
| Jamie LaBranche |
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Grand Total Raised | $1,200 | ||||
| Grand Total Spent | $2,500 | ||||
2011
LaBranche lost to Republican incumbent Michael Strain in the primary on October 22, 2011. Because Strain captured more than 50 percent of the primary vote, he won the election outright. Although the Louisiana general election was scheduled for November 19, 2011, the office of agriculture and forestry commissioner did not appear on the ballot.[4]
| Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Mike Strain Incumbent |
66.5% | 640,886 | |
| Democratic | Jamie LaBranche | 27.8% | 267,942 | |
| Reform | Belinda Alexandrenko | 5.7% | 54,888 | |
| Total Votes | 963,716 | |||
| Election results via Louisiana Secretary of State | ||||
Platform
On his campaign website, LaBranche outlined four main points of his 2011 platform. Excerpts:[12]
- Medical Agriculture: "Under my plan Louisiana will partner with the private sectors to implement the largest medical agriculture program in North America. Louisiana has the right climate and soil structure to cultivate many of medical plants, including Poppy."
- Abolishing the child fishing and hunting tax: "As Commissioner of Agriculture my first two acts of duty will be to rid of the child fishing tax and child hunting tax, which Louisiana pedals as a license. These license fees, fines, penalties or taxes; whichever you wish to call it, is a direct assault on the family structure."
- Schools: "As Agriculture Commissioner I will bring- forth an initiative to reinstate agricultural studies back into the Public School System. The proposed initiative will consist of a two year horticulture studies program; where students will retain a license of certification upon completion. This study will be available to 11th and 12th grade students who will then have the opportunity to graduate with a skilled trade."
- Fishing: " As Agriculture Commissioner I will partner with local fisherman to create a State Of the Art Market Place that would revitalize the gulf coast seafood industry. This market will allow Louisiana fisherman to bring in their fresh catch for market; the state-of-the-art market will allow fisherman to instantaneously advertise their goods over the internet on a nationwide data base of restaurants, super markets, and other seafood processing industries."
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2015
According to his campaign website, LaBranche's 2015 campaign was centered on four major issues:
- Medical agricultural farming
- Agriculture studies in schools
- Protecting consumers at the gas pump
- Expediting the distribution of legal medical marijuana within the state[13]
LaBranche issued the following press release, outlining some of his proposals for the 2015 election in greater detail:
| “ |
LaBranche will introduce a new industry to Louisiana ( Medical Agriculture Farming Industry) that will create more high paying jobs this state seen since the 1950s from Laborers to Highly skilled Professionals. We at a critical turning point in the medical field with major expansions in New Orleans and surrounding areas, we have the best colleges in Louisiana for the medical industry,this new Medical Agriculture Industry will secure high paying jobs for the college grads and others. We also secured interest in building processing and production plants through out the state by major Pharmaceutical Companies. Join me in creating a great future for Louisiana and allowing our kids to remain in our state, instead of searching for a career out of state. (The Farmers) will benefit by receiving more per acre than other crops with less labor and equipment. Example: sugar cane yields an avg. of $650.00 per acre to the farmer. Medical crops will yield starting at $ 2600.00 per acre and up. (Agriculture Studies in High Schools) have been gone for a very long time in our schools. You have to ask yourself, do you want to live off of imported produce. With most of our farmers at retirement age and the state not teaching agriculture studies (Future Farmers) you going to have a lot of empty fields. "My first year in office I will reinstate Agriculture studies back in every High School in the state. I am the only candidate that will give the state Billions with contract growing with Pharma companies in my first year in office with this new industry, this extra money will save us from all proposed cuts and place us in a surplus of money with major job growth. I ask you to join my grassroots campaign to move our great state of Louisiana forward.[1] [14] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jamie LaBranche 2015 Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner, "Press Release," accessed September 19, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Lens, "Election 2015," accessed October 25, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shreveport Times, "Strain picks up two opponents," September 8, 2011
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Office of the Louisiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results; Results for Election Date: 10/22/2011," accessed Sept. 19, 2015
- ↑ Ballotpedia Staff, "Email communication with Jamie LaBranche," March 9, 2024.
- ↑ Office of the Louisiana Secretary of State, "Candidate Inquiry," accessed Sept. 19, 2015
- ↑ Office of the Louisiana Secretary of State, "2015 Elections," accessed Sept. 18, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Ethics Administration Program, "View Campaign Finance Reports," accessed September 25, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Ethics Administration Program, "View Campaign Finance Reports," accessed September 25, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Ethics Administration Program, "View Campaign Finance Reports," accessed September 25, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Ethics Administration Program, "View Campaign Finance Reports," accessed February 19, 2015
- ↑ Jamie LaBranche for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry," accessed September 17, 2011
- ↑ Jamie LaBranche Official Campaign website, accessed Sept. 19, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
