Louisiana State University students gathered Monday in the Journalism Building for a standing‑room‑only forum with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Davis, a farmer from Waterproof, ahead of National Voter Registration Day. Davis, 55, emphasized that voting is the most direct way for citizens to make their voices heard.
“If you don’t exercise your right to vote, you just muffled your own voice,” Davis told the crowd. “You cannot complain when you don’t exercise your right.” The candidate, who previously served on the police jury in Tensas Parish, stressed the need for young voters to participate in the November 3 election, where he will face Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow of Baton Rouge.
Voter registration and campaign outreach
The event was organized by Geaux Vote, LSU’s Black Student Union, and the Black Girls Vote organization. While Letlow’s campaign has not confirmed a campus appearance, Geaux Vote’s vice president, Malachi Mays, expressed hope that the Republican candidate will join LSU students soon.
Davis deliberately kept his remarks nonpartisan, avoiding direct criticism of President Donald Trump or mention of Letlow’s name. He focused instead on issues that resonate with students, including his own experience leaving LSU early to support his family.
Student‑loan policy under the Trump administration
Davis criticized recent changes to the federal student‑loan system that were implemented by the Trump administration. Those revisions have made repayment schedules more restrictive, requiring many borrowers to increase their monthly payments in order to qualify for loan forgiveness. “Rules for borrowers should not change in the middle of the repayment process,” Davis said, calling for more generous forgiveness options for individuals who work in rural areas like his home parish.
Connecting with younger voters
In an effort to reach a younger audience, Davis admitted he has sometimes “acted a clown,” using humorous social‑media videos to engage college students. Several attendees said the forum inspired them to vote for the first time in November.
Senior Madelyn Broussard voiced concerns about rising gas and grocery prices and opposed recent industrial projects, including a SpaceX launch facility in Vermilion Parish and new data centers in rural Louisiana. “Louisiana should not be selling off our wetlands to be destroyed,” she added.
Freshman Tyler Wood expressed worries about the impact of artificial intelligence and corporate spending in politics, calling for greater transparency around a large Meta data‑center project planned for Richland Parish, near Davis’s residence.
Junior Sarah Bailey, who leads the Black Student Union, said she is looking for a politician with an authentic voice. “I don’t want to be sold dreams. I want something that is realistic,” she said. “I just want to know who’s keeping it real.”
Looking ahead
As the election approaches, both campaigns continue to court LSU’s diverse student body. The event highlighted the importance of voter registration, the impact of federal student‑loan policy, and the concerns of Louisiana’s next generation of voters.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
