Former State Rep. Ted James announced Thursday he is running for Baton Rouge mayor-president in this fall’s election against incumbent Sharon Weston-Broome.
James, a Democrat, announced his bid to run under the slogan “TrusTED” Thursday morning at the McKinley High School Alumni Center before a crowd of residents, supporters and media members.
His candidacy had been the subject of rumor for weeks leading up to Thursday’s announcement, with talk ramping up in January after he said he was resigning from his role as regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration “for a new chapter.”
James posted a video to social media in the days leading up to Thursday’s announcement saying he would dedicate “the next phase of (his) life” to giving back to Baton Rouge, scored by Atlanta rapper Jeezy’s 2008 song “Put On.”
James served in the Louisiana House of Representatives for 10 years, serving as chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and chairman of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.
James resigned from his post in 2022 to serve his appointment with the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he doubled lending to minority-owned businesses and increased the number of women getting certifications, he said last month.
James’ political background positions him as a potentially formidable opponent to Broome, another Democrat who is seeking her third and final term in office.
Broome, Baton Rouge’s first female mayor, won her previous two elections: in 2016 against former Sen. Bodi White, and in 2020 against the late former Rep. Steve Carter, both Republicans. Before becoming Mayor, Broome served as a Baton Rouge Metro Council member, state representative and state senator.
No other candidates have formally announced their run for mayor. David Tatman, a Republican and former six-year president of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, has seemingly created a campaign website and video, but has not explicitly said he’s running for mayor-president. He has not responded to numerous calls to his cell phone or his office.
This is a developing story.
