GOP candidates trade attacks, differ on carbon capture in Louisiana Senate race

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – Attack ads aimed at Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow have been running for weeks as the two Republicans compete in the race for Louisiana’s open U.S. Senate seat.

Fleming said political action committees have been “running dishonest attack ads for two weeks solid,” including ads he said connect him to the Sept. 11 attacks.

“I fully expect at some point they would connect me to the assassination of Lincoln,” Fleming said.

Letlow said she wants negative campaigning to stop.

“I’ve had $15 million dropped on my head in negative ads, and I understand that’s why people won’t run,” Letlow said.

Carbon capture has also been a major issue in the race. Carbon capture is described in the report as a process in which carbon dioxide from industrial installations or natural resources is separated before it is released into the atmosphere and then transported to a long-term storage location.

Fleming said he opposes carbon capture. Letlow said claims about her position have been misrepresented.

What Fleming, Letlow say on carbon capture

“I want a good economy for Louisiana, but there are things we have to do like lowering taxes, reducing insurance rates to get better business — not by a toxic dump of carbon dioxide,” Fleming said, referencing what he called “Julia Letlow and Jeff Landry’s method” of pursuing economic growth.

Letlow said she does not support projects that are not safe or lack community support.

“If the project is not safe, if it does not have community finance, I believe it should not move forward,” Letlow said. She also said she appreciates “the governor’s moratorium on the projects until they can be fully vetted,” and told voters not to believe what they read on social media.

Candidate backgrounds highlighted in the report

The report said Fleming previously served in Congress and was appointed to several positions in the Trump administration. Fleming is described as a Minden native, a Navy veteran, a physician and a businessman.

Fleming said he is mostly funding his own campaign.

“I can’t be bought,” Fleming said. “I stand for the individual people.”

The report said Letlow is a Monroe native. It said she ran in a 2021 special election for a vacant congressional seat previously held by her late husband, Luke Letlow, who died from COVID.

Letlow said her priorities include safe communities, border security and growing the economy.

“I want those safe communities for our kids,” Letlow said. “I will continue working with the president to make sure our border remains secure. I also want to grow our economy.”