The Iowa Straw Poll for Louisiana’s Republican gubernatorial candidates­ — which pays homage to the state of Iowa’s presidential election straw poll — is set for noon-4p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, in the Iowa High School Gym.

The top five Republican candidates in the 2023 Louisiana governor’s race — Jeff Landry, Stephen Waguespack, Sharon Hewitt, John Schroder and Richard Nelson — are expected to participate.

“Our whole purpose in doing this straw poll is to get the constituents out to hear our gubernatorial candidates,” said Roby Dyer, president of the Republican Parish Executive Committee. “Last year we had it at a smaller venue and it sold out quickly. We went to a bigger venue this year and we have more candidates and it’s an opportunity for people to hear them all and make their choice.”

Tickets to the event are $30 and include access to the speakers, a barbecue lunch catered by Inlaws Cajun Specialties, and a vote in the straw poll.

“When people get there, they’ll be able to eat lunch, mingle with candidates — the gubernatorial candidates as well as a few down-ballot candidates — and then they’ll have the opportunity to hear each one speak for about 10 minutes,” Dyer said. “Once those speeches are done, they can fill out their ballot, we’ll count them and then show who the winner is right then and there.”

Down-ballot candidates who will be at the event include one for secretary of state, two for state attorney general and one for insurance commissioner.

“Voters will hear first-hand the platforms of each candidate, they won’t go by what someone told them,” Dyer said. “They can hear for themselves and make the decision for themselves.”

She said events such as the straw poll are important because the state needs good leaders.

“Our state has been No. 50 in a lot of categories for a long time,” Dyer said. “It’s time that we get someone in there who can lead our state. We’re losing our young people, we’re losing our jobs and we need to bring companies here. We want to get good candidates into office to lead our state.”

Steven Jordan, vice president of the parish executive committee, said the straw poll ballot will also include a write-in for the presidential election.

“Right now, a year out, we have a lot of controversy going on with the presidential election so we thought it would be good to see how real-time voters feel about the presidential candidates without any influence from these candidates coming in,” Jordan said.

He said the event — which is hosted jointly between the parish executive committee and the Republican Women of Southwest Louisiana and will be moderated by Dr. John Noble — creates an opportunity for candidates who are polling lower right now to speak on a level playing field, one-on-one with potential voters.

Tickets are available online at www.eventbrite.com/e/iowa-straw-poll-2023-tickets-657736697167.