4 Candidates Vie for Vacant Baton Rouge-Area State House Seat

Insurance costs, infrastructure among top issues heading into March 14 vote

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Four candidates - Democrat Ashley Roberts and Republicans Paul Sawyer, Adam Beach, and Lynn Coxe Graham - are running for the vacant Louisiana House District 69 seat covering parts of Baton Rouge and St. George. The special election is set for March 14, with the top issues including mitigating flood risk, addressing the state's insurance crisis, fixing infrastructure, and reducing crime.

Why it matters

This race will determine who will represent the constituents of District 69 in the state legislature, with key issues like insurance affordability and infrastructure being priorities for the candidates. The outcome could also impact the partisan balance of power in the Louisiana House of Representatives.

The details

The district was left open after former state Rep. Paula Davis resigned in December. The four candidates bring a range of backgrounds and policy priorities to the race. Democrat Ashley Roberts has legal experience and wants to focus on affordable insurance and flood mitigation. Republican Paul Sawyer has a background in economic development and wants to address infrastructure, crime, and insurance costs. Republican Adam Beach is a school administrator running on a platform of limited government and restoring integrity to politics. Republican Lynn Coxe Graham is a realtor who supports eliminating the state income tax and working to lower insurance rates.

  • The special election is set for March 14, 2026.

The players

Ashley Roberts

A Democrat running for the seat, Roberts has worked as a court-appointed special advocate and has 10 years of legal experience.

Paul Sawyer

A Republican candidate, Sawyer spent a decade working under former Congressman Garret Graves and has a background in state economic development.

Adam Beach

A Republican candidate, Beach serves as a secondary principal at Bethany Christian School and is running to bring integrity and limited government to the statehouse.

Lynn Coxe Graham

A Republican candidate, Graham is a realtor with experience leading and participating in Republican committees and organizations across Louisiana.

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What they’re saying

“I've had a lot of the things that affect our community affect me very personally. So, that's why I decided to run. I was raised that if you have a complaint, you should also have a solution, and I'm going to be the solution.”

— Ashley Roberts, Democratic Candidate (WAFB)

“We've been stuck with just very expensive insurance costs. That's a hidden tax. Being involved in politics is not something that I necessarily want to do. Fixing things is absolutely what I want to do.”

— Paul Sawyer, Republican Candidate (WAFB)

“Integrity, bringing that heart back to the issue of politics. It's a joke now that if you're a politician, I can't trust you. I think that's something that you could work to restore.”

— Adam Beach, Republican Candidate (WAFB)

“I know the governor wants to eliminate the state income tax, and I am all for that. To keep up with Texas, Florida, and now Mississippi is lowering or eliminating theirs, we're going to have to.”

— Lynn Coxe Graham, Republican Candidate (WAFB)

What’s next

The special election is set for March 14, 2026, and the winner will represent Louisiana's House District 69 in the state legislature.

The takeaway

This race highlights the key issues of insurance affordability, infrastructure, and crime that are top priorities for voters in the Baton Rouge area. The outcome could shift the partisan balance in the state House, making it an important contest to watch.