Democrat Jamie Davis hopes Louisiana voters send him to Washington

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - FOX 8 requested individual sit-down interviews with both Jamie Davis and Julia Letlow. Davis consented to be interviewed, but Letlow never got back with us about an interview despite multiple requests.

In June, Jamie Davis won the Louisiana Democratic Party primary runoff for the U.S. Senate race. And on Nov. 3, Louisiana voters will decide whether Davis or Republican Julia Letlow become the state’s newest U.S. Senator.

Both are running for the Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Bill Cassidy, who did not make the runoff.

Davis sat down with FOX 8 earlier this month to discuss his candidacy. He said he has traveled the state to take his message to voters.

“We’ve touched voters in all ways. Phone-banking, emails, text messaging, knocking on doors, I even walked a parade in New Iberia,” Davis said.

Davis is a farmer with a 3,200-acre farm, and he served on the Tensas Parish Police Jury.

The midterm election comes as inflation is up in the U.S.

“Well, when we’re elected on Nov. 3, the very first thing that we will do is end a war. A war that immediately impacts people’s pockets by way of high fuel,” said Davis. “And I know that from experience because every time the fuel plant delivers me a load of fuel, I can look at the ticket and it says ‘fuel surcharge.’ So everything that’s delivered has some extra cost from fuel.”

The topic of nondisclosure agreements signed by some Louisiana officials has cropped up during the campaign.

Davis said he opposes NDAs for people in government.

“I make a vow to never sign an NDA while I’m elected. And I also would like to pass a ban on NDAs in Congress,” he said.

Data centers are a hot topic in campaigns around the country ahead of the midterm election.

“I won’t say that they’re bad. I won’t say that they’re good. But I will say that we don’t need to just stockpile build them just one after the other when we don’t know how they will affect Louisiana,” Davis said.

He thinks it is time to push pause.

“I would like to see a moratorium on data centers until we know more. It’s not that I’m not pro-business, because I am,” Davis stated.

Davis said he would fight in the Senate to regulate AI data centers.

When asked how he would do so, he said “there must be a kill switch so we have control over AI at all times.”

“Because we saw in the news where some of the AI companies, the AI basically got away and did some things,” he said.

While Davis thinks Congress should act soon, he added, “I can see an AI that can cure cancer.”

He knows the worth of technological advances.

“I can hit a button and change from five gallons of solution per acre to 10 at the hit of a switch. So we have to have technology to continue to elevate ourselves. But if that technology gets to the point to where it threatens us, we have to have that ability to kill it,” Davis siad.

Davis said Congress should pass laws to hold tech companies accountable if AI becomes harmful to humans, businesses and the economy.

“If you created it, it is yours. No different than if I run into your car with my car,” said Davis. " I’m liable for the damages to your car. The same way with the AI."

As a senator, Davis said he would work to lower healthcare costs and insurance premiums.

“I would love on day one to roll back the cuts to the ACA subsidies and just strengthen Medicaid and Medicare to pre-Trump eras. To give people in America the ability to be healthy again,” he said.

Louisianans rely heavily on the National Flood Insurance Program, which has solvency concerns.

“I will say that as a farmer, I can’t tell you how to make it solvent, but I do know that I will find the expert that knows how to make it solvent,” Davis said.

FOX 8 also asked Davis what his top three priorities would be if he is elected.

“On day one, a national ban on partisan gerrymandering. Also, we must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act,” he said.

And third, the expired enhanced ACA subsidies

“Louisiana needs to be healthier,” Davis said.

He also said he would work with Republicans to pass legislation that is good for Louisiana residents.

“Our family farm started in1977. Working alongside of my dad, I learned one thing. Number one, how to respect men and women. How to talk to people. And how to negotiate business deals,” he said.

And Davis says he would go against his party if needed to pass legislation that is helpful to Louisiana.

“I want to be very clear: I’m indebted to the people of Louisiana. They will be the people that elected me,” Davis said.

He also responded to a question about why he thinks he is the best person to represent Louisiana in the U.S. Senate starting in January.

“Made every dollar I’ve ever made from the soils. A man of faith. Plant a million dollars in the ground every year, hoping to have a million dollar yield. That’s a man of faith. A man of the people. A man that will do everything in his power to make sure Louisiana is the greatest state in this nation,” Davis said.

You can watch our full interview with Davis below or click HERE.

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