In a surprising turn of events, the Louisiana Republican Party has thrown its support behind John Raymond, a state house candidate facing four counts of criminal cruelty to children. This move has ignited a fierce debate within the party and the broader community.
Raymond, a lead minister at New Horizon Church in Slidell, Louisiana, and owner of the Christian radio station The Bridge 88.7 FM, has a controversial history. He made headlines in the past for his opposition to same-sex marriage and his support for former President Donald Trump. His previous unsuccessful bids for a Louisiana house seat were marked by these positions.
The charges against Raymond stem from incidents at Lakeside Christian Academy in Slidell, where he serves as the founder and headmaster. In one instance, he allegedly punished three students by taping their mouths shut. This act of punishment involved wrapping packing tape around the heads of three 13-year-olds for excessive talking in class. The students, in distress, had difficulty breathing and experienced pain when the tape was removed. Raymond was subsequently charged with three counts of cruelty to juveniles.
Further controversy arose when Raymond was arrested again in May 2022. This time, he was accused of holding a 4-year-old boy upside down by the ankles and whipping the child’s buttocks. In a separate incident, he was alleged to have covered the boy’s mouth and nose with his hand to stop a tantrum, causing the child to lose consciousness temporarily.
Despite these serious allegations, the Louisiana Republican Party’s executive committee endorsed Raymond’s candidacy. This endorsement has drawn sharp criticism from within the party and the public.
Jay Gallé, a former marine and businessman who is also running in the Republican primary, called the endorsement an “embarrassment” for the party. He pointed out that Raymond faces not one, but four criminal charges related to cruelty to children.
Raymond has been an active figure within the party, repeatedly testifying before the state legislature in favor of restricting access to “sexually explicit” material in public libraries, allowing teachers to misgender transgender and nonbinary students, and limiting discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms.
On his campaign website, Raymond claims there is an “epidemic of inappropriate sexual grooming and social engineering” in public schools and promises to remain vigilant against what he describes as a “wave of transgender confusion seeking to dominate our culture and confuse our children.”
The endorsement of a candidate facing such serious allegations has raised questions about the priorities and values of the Louisiana Republican Party, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ issues and child welfare. This controversy is likely to have a significant impact on the upcoming election in House District 104 and the broader political landscape in Louisiana.