Blake Miguez, a Louisiana Republican state senator running for the U.S. House, has stated that he hopes to regain Donald Trump’s endorsement following redistricting changes that altered congressional district boundaries in the state.
Miguez had previously secured Trump’s backing under the original map for Louisiana’s fifth congressional district in February, but the state redrawn its House districts following a Supreme Court decision in Callais v Louisiana. Miguez is now considering running in one of two districts, neither of which is his place of residence, though candidates are legally permitted to run in districts outside their home areas. His campaign spokesperson said he was “honored” to have Trump’s previous endorsement and hopes to “earn it again” after announcing his campaign under the new district lines.
A White House spokesperson stated that Trump has not formally rescinded his endorsement, noting that the president “will look at the candidate field after candidate qualifying if necessary” and that “at this point, [Trump] has not made any changes nor does he have an intent to.” However, critics within Trump’s camp reportedly raised concerns that Miguez may not have fully disclosed a 2007 police report alleging rape when pursuing the endorsement, according to reporting by the Atlantic and the Guardian. Miguez categorically denies the allegation. The accuser reportedly chose not to press charges at the time, stating she did not want to get Miguez “into trouble” when he was in law school.
Miguez’s campaign responded to the allegations by circulating statements from family members of the accuser questioning her credibility and referencing mental health and substance abuse issues. A political action committee supporting rival Republican candidate Rick Edmonds characterized the campaign’s attribution of endorsement uncertainty to redistricting as “silly.” Miguez won election to Louisiana’s state senate in 2023 and has been involved in state politics for over a decade. His qualifying period to formally announce which district he will contest is set to open on 5 August.
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