A former Democratic House candidate announced an ad explaining their decision to switch to the Republican party.

Elbert Guillory, a Louisiana House candidate, released an advertisement stating his reason for switching from the Democratic to the Republican Party, asserting that the GOP has a history of fighting for the rights of the Black community.

"Guillory stated in the ad that his decision was the right one not only for him but also for the entire Black community. He argued that the Democratic Party has created the illusion that their agenda and policies are what's best for Black people, but he reminded that the Republican Party was founded in 1842 as an abolitionist movement."

In a week, Guillory will be the only Republican contender in Louisiana's primary election, facing off against four other candidates.

In Louisiana, all candidates run in the same election, and the candidate who receives more than 50% of the vote wins outright. If no candidate achieves this mark, the two top candidates compete in a runoff election the following month.

From 2007 to 2009, Guillory served in the Louisiana House, and from 2009 to 2016, he was a member of the state Senate. In 2013, he changed his political affiliation from Democrat to Republican while serving in the state Senate.

Guillory argued in his new ad that the decision to switch parties was an easy one, stating that Democrats have not done enough to assist the Black community.

"While the Democrats were the party of Jim Crow and defended the rights of slave owners, it was the Republicans who championed the Civil Rights Act of 1957. However, it was the Democrats in the Senate who filibustered the bill."

In a district that has become more competitive for Democrats following the redrawing of the state's maps in 2022, Guillory is pitching to voters. The Cook Political Report has rated the race as "Solid Democratic" as of October 22.

Nevertheless, Guillory is standing behind his decision to switch parties.

"The ad stated that the core of liberalism is the belief that a strong and large government is necessary to ensure social justice for all Americans. However, the left's true concern is control, which they mask as charitable programs such as welfare and food stamps."

"He stated that these programs were not meant to lift Americans out of poverty, but rather to control the Black community. Politicians' intention was to use them as a mechanism for control. The idea that anyone, including Blacks, needs the government to succeed in life is reprehensible."

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