Three of the eight candidates for the state’s 3rd Congressional District seat have begun to pick up their campaign efforts.

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, has sponsored full-page newspaper ads saying, “We have delivered over $3.5 billion in response to Hurricanes Laura and Delta.”

The ad lists the funding going to individuals, public assistance, the National Flood Insurance Program, and assistance to businesses. Community Development Block Grants have gone to local government agencies and the City of Lake Charles.

Holden Hoggatt, a Lafayette Republican, has responded to Higgins’ criticism of President Joe Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness program. Higgins tweeted, “There’s no such thing as ‘erasing federal debt.’ You’ve only shifted the debt onto the entire nation, including those Americans who have already paid off their own student loans.”

Hoggatt said, “Speaking of ‘erasing debt,’ who did you (Higgins) shift your debt to when you refused to pay more than $100,000 in court-ordered child support? In Congress, you’ve abandoned our families just like you abandoned your own.”

Dustin Granger, an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for state Senate District 27 on Nov. 13, 2021, is promoting Tia LeBrun’s candidacy for the 3rd Congressional District. LeBrun is from Lafayette, and Granger said she is the endorsed Democratic candidate.

LeBrun is an 18-year award winning educator, Granger said, who will “fight for our families by investing in our children’s education, protecting reproductive freedom, and securing the funding needed to bounce back from recent natural disasters.”

Other candidates in the 3rd District race are Democrat Lessie Olivia Leblanc of Baton Rouge, Republicans Thomas “Lane” Payne Jr. of Perry, La., and Jacob “Jake” Shaheen of Lake Charles, Libertarian Gary McLendon of Sulphur, and Independent Gloria R. Wiggins of Franklin.