Running for Louisiana Governor has been the honor of a lifetime, a capstone to more than two decades of transparent and ethical public service. Throughout this campaign, we’ve crisscrossed the state, traversing many roads and projects the Department of Transportation and Development started, completed, or secured funding for under my watch. We exceeded 60,000 miles driven, with the wear and tear on the vehicles completely worth it as we brought my vision for Louisiana to the people directly. We also raised nearly $3 million from a coordinated effort from over 6,000 donors in our grassroots effort to be elected Governor, which would have been our state’s first Black Governor in Louisiana since reconstruction.
While we did not earn the victory we hoped for, there are no regrets in the Wilson household. The difference one makes is not always in the outcome that one would have - we made a difference in this race and the State of Louisiana.
I'm confident that we put it all on the table; countless calls, texts, emails, and meetings, to ensure we elected the most qualified candidate and secure Louisiana's future. Through it all, we persisted, fought, and gave this race our absolute all. That is what Louisiana is built on – we are a resilient people.
There are absolutely no regrets because we know we made a difference for the right reasons; that difference reverberates through neighborhoods and families across this entire state. They will remember our campaign forever, and it's my hope and prayer that the next campaign can stand on our shoulders and the impact we have made. This is how this campaign's legacy continues to live on.
Let's use this as a rallying call to hold our government accountable – let's make sure our Governor, our legislators, and our local officials show up to do what we expect them to do. While we may not understand everything Jeff Landry wants to do as Governor, I pray he wants to try to do the right thing.
Let’s also work at every level to better organize and mobilize to advance democratic principles. You don’t have to be elected to do that, you just have to care, want to make a difference, and be willing to put in the work. For Louisianans of various party affiliations, we can’t be better, until we do better!
Don't give up on Louisiana, don't give up on this great state, because we've got a lot more ahead of us,and if there’s one thing Louisianans are known for, it is strength in the face of hardships. Let’s have faith and keep up our spirits.
