Fifth Congressional District Republican candidate Austin Magee who, at the Ronald Reagan newsmaker luncheon on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, slammed U. S. Senate Republican candidate Julia Letlow as, “part of the swamp in supporting the Socialist scam of carbon capture.”
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the monthly Ronald Regan Newsmaker Luncheon was held with Republican candidates for the Fifth Congressional District invited to attend. Only three (3) candidates opted to do so, and perhaps the most interesting one of the three was Austin Magee, whose campaign slogan is, “I can’t do any worse than the rest of ‘em!” The other two candidates who opted to attend were State Sen. Rick Edmonds and State Rep. Michael Echols, who has deep and strong ties with and to Gov. Landry.
Incumbent Fifth District Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who is running for U. S. Senate after quite literally being dragged into the race by President Trump (after months-long urging by Gov. Jeff Landry directly to Trump for him to do so), certainly wasn’t spared a lambasting by Magee! That opportunity arose (and he took full advantage of it) when Phillip “Bert” Callais, who recently appeared as a Sound Off Louisiana guest on the topic of “election integrity,” asked a question on carbon capture and sequestration:
3/10/26: Magee responds to question on carbon capture, after which Echols does the same (Edmonds had to return to the Capitol for a committee meeting).
Arguably even more intriguing at the forum was the first question posed, which was by host and former State Representative Woody Jenkins. The question posed of Echols and Magee by Jenkins centered on what Jenkins asserts are efforts by Gov. Landry to block the widening of Airline Highway from the Old Bridge to I-12. Further, Jenkins asserts that widening initiative is “paid for” by the Move EBR plan passed by EBRP voters. Jenkins also contends that Landry is backing instead a toll road covering that same stretch of Airline Highway:
3/10/26: Echols and Magee respond to Jenkins’ question regarding Gov. Landry allegedly blocking the widening of Airline Hwy from the Old Bridge to I-12 paid for by Move EBR funds in favor of a toll road covering the same stretch of Highway.
CLICK HERE for the luncheon in its entirety.