Nine of the 13 Southwest Louisiana members of the state Legislature are unopposed for re-election and will begin new terms on Jan. 8, 2024. Six candidates qualified for Calcasieu Parish sheriff and nine members of the Police Jury were unopposed.

The unopposed legislators, all Republicans, are state Sens. Heather Cloud of Turkey Creek, Jeremy Stine of Lake Charles, and Mike Reese of Leesville, and state Reps. Dewith Carrier of Oberlin, Les Farnum of Sulphur, Brett Geymann of Moss Bluff, Phillip E. Tarver of Lake Charles, Troy Romero of Iowa, and Ryan Bourriaque of Grand Lake.

Republican Sen. Mark Abraham of Lake Charles has one opponent in the Oct. 14 primary — Democrat Joshua “Josh” Lewis of Lake Charles.

Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn of Leesville has one opponent — Clarence Beebe of Hornbeck. Both are Republicans.

Republican Rep. Charles A. Owen of Leesville has one opponent — independent William “BJ” Jones of Leesville.

Rep. Wilford Carter of Lake Charles has two opponents — Kevin D. Guidry and Franklin D.  Lewis Sr., both of Lake Charles. All three are Democrats.

Calcasieu Parish voters will also be balloting in the District 7 race on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Dr. Holly Boffy of Vermilion Parish, the current president of BESE, is not seeking re-election.

The three District 7 candidates, all Republicans, are Cathy S. Banks of Lake Charles, Kevin M. Berken of Jennings, and Erick Knezek of Lafayette.

Two 14th Judicial District judge races are on the Calcasieu ballot. Two candidates for the Division F seat are Sa’Trica Williams Bensaadat and Bobby Holmes, both Lake Charles Democrats.

Three Lake Charles Republicans seeking the Division C seat are William J. “Bill” Cutrera, Brad Guillory and Mark Judson.

The six Calcasieu Parish sheriff candidates are Dustan Abshire, R-Lake Charles; “Les” Blanchard, R-Lake Charles; Elizabeth Gray Carrier, D-DeQuincy; “Stitch” Guillory, No Party-Westlake; Bradley Moss, independent-Sulphur; and “Mike” Reid, R-Lake Charles.

Unopposed and re-elected are Calcasieu Clerk of Court Lynn Jones, No Party; Assessor Wendy Aguillard, independent; and Coroner Terry Welke, No Party. All are from Lake Charles.

Unopposed members of the Police Jury are Brian Abshire, R-Lake Charles, District 5; “Ron” Hayes,  R-Lake Charles, District 6; Chris Landry, No Party-Lake Charles, District 7, “Tony” Stelly, R-Iowa, District 10; Roger Marcantel, R-Sulphur, District 11; Judd Bares, R-Sulphur; Joe Andrepont, R-Sulphur; Randy  Burleigh, R-Westlake; and “Tony” Tramonte, R-Sulphur.

Seeking the District 1 seat are Reath Chauvin and Darby Quinn, both Lake Charles Republicans. Incumbent Ashton Richard was not seeking re-election. The three District 2 candidates are Shawntel Carter-Willis, Emile LeVon Fontenot, and  Michael “Mike” Smith, all are Lake Charles Democrats. Smith is the incumbent.

Eddie Earl Lewis Jr. and Stelly Mayo are the two District 3 candidates. Both are Lake Charles Democrats. Lewis is the incumbent. Mike Dellafosse Jr. and Tony Guillory are the District 4 candidates. Both are Lake Charles Democrats. Guillory is the incumbent.

The three District 8 candidates are Mary Kaye Eason, Emily Fenet-Parker and Scott Washington. All are Lake Charles Republicans. Incumbent  Guy Brame was not seeking re-election. The two District 9 candidates are Anthony L. Bartie and  Felicia Frank. Both are Lake Charles Democrats. Bartie is the incumbent.