Meet Candy Christophe: candidate to become the first black woman to represent the state of Louisiana

Black Facts.com

JOIN OUR FIGHT TO ELECT LOUISIANA’S FIRST BLACK CONGRESSWOMAN

In 2020, lifelong Democrat Candy Christophe stepped up to the plate and set off to do what others believed to be impossible: become the first black woman to represent the great state of Louisiana. Candy came within 424 votes of advancing to the run-off to face the late Republican frontrunner, Luke Letlow who tragically passed away of COVID-19 in December 2020.

​A champion of her community with a demonstrated track record of finding solutions to complex problems, Candy is no stranger to the issues plaguing her district. To combat economic strife and family separation, Candy founded Re- Entry, a Louisiana nonprofit that provides needed support to formerly incarcerated persons assisting with employment, housing, and reintegration.

​Following the Governor’s decision to hold a special election on March 20th to fill the empty LA-05 seat for US Congress, Candy has entered the race as the only democrat and she’s not backing down.

Economic Justice 

Candy is not from a wealthy family and understands the unique struggles that most Louisiana families experience on a limited income.Candy understands the issues of small business owners who need to make loans to pay annual taxes, the struggles of balancing the books to make sure your employees are paid, shopping around for the best package benefits for your staff, and concerns of how your business will survive the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

​As the Founder & former Executive Director of Re-Entry Solutions, Candy has experienced first hand the enormous struggles of those who have very good intentions, are not seeking self-gain or recognition but are trying to simply do good and meet the unmet needs of their neighbors. 

​Candy will stand up and fight for every man, woman, boy, and girl in Louisiana. 

Agriculture

Candy’s maternal grandfather, Johnny Moore was a farmer in rural East Feliciana Parish. Her husband’s grandfather, Earnest Christophe was also a farmer. She knows what it is like to walk in the garden and eat hot watermelon picked right off the vine. Having battled obesity Candy understands the value of eating fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.

As a mother and grandmother, she also understands the effect food has on the next generation and how their learning is positively enhanced with eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Candy strongly believes in the survival and success of our farmers, both large and especially small.

Candy also understands how the tariffs have negatively affected our farmers and how even if the crops don’t move the bills always continue. Candy will work hard to get Louisiana growing again and to get Louisiana farm products moving again!

Small Business 

As a small business owner, Candy understands what business owner‘s needs are, their risks, their struggles, and their concerns. Candy often says, “Team Work Makes the Dream Work!”, as your Congresswoman Candy will be that team member whom you and your business can always count on! 

Candy has been a front-line community worker all of her adult life. Candy has insight that many who are seeking election do not have: she understands the benefit of employment goes well beyond a paycheck for the employee and that the positive consequence of work has a multi-generational effect on the employee’s family.

Unions and Non-Union Workers

Candy supports unions because she realizes the essential need to help set standards for education, skill levels, wages, working conditions, and quality of life for workers. Candy will continue to protect unions because they represent a successful way of putting “People First” by negotiating higher wages, better benefits, and offering more protection for our teachers, crafts, industry, professionals, and general workers.

​As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Addiction Counselor, Candy understands the valuable need to work, have a safe supportive working environment, and have benefits to ensure the well being of employees and their families. 

​Research supports the benefits of having access to preventive health care increases productivity on and off the job. You can be well assured that Candy will continue to ensure the protection of unions and our non-union workers because their success means the prospect of future generations to succeed is assured. We truly are stronger and better together when we put “People First!”

Second Amendment Rights

Candy does not want to take away your guns! Candy understands the love and culture of hunting in Louisiana and has even completed a concealed weapons class. Growing up in rural East Feliciana she has fond memories of hunting with her uncles who remain adamant hunters to this day. 

​As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Addiction Counselor Candy has also seen firsthand, the consequences of mental illness and the wrath that addiction can fuel. Candy will fight for the protection of all and will work to ensure that those who are unstable are not able to possess a weapon.

Military Families and Foreign Policy

Candy has 3 uncles who have proudly served our country in the United States Armed Forces. Today, Candy has two daughters who serve in the U.S. Army. Candy will ensure that your sons and daughters are not put in harm’s way unnecessarily. She will look after them and fight to protect them as if they were her own because they are! Candy has insight like no other candidate as to the needs of our Veterans.

​Candy has two uncles who served in the U.S. Air Force and one who served in the U.S. Navy. She understands firsthand what it is like to worry when they are away and the direct impact their active duty service status has on the entire family.

Veterans and the VA

Candy has insight like no other LA-05 candidate as to the needs of the veterans who have served our country, the V.A. System and its management, and the issues of our veterans who continue to struggle today. 

​Candy completed her requisite master’s degree internship at the V.A. Medical Center in Pineville, La. During this internship Candy worked directly with all areas and aspects of the VA hospital including the medical floor, psychiatric unit, outpatient clinic, and nursing home. 

​During her time at the VA, Candy experienced veteran substance abuse, women’s veteran issues, and burdensome disability claims and follow up. Candy possesses the exact type of insight that is needed to ensure our Military Families and Veterans issues get resolved without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Health Care 

Candy has been a professional health care worker for 25 years. Throughout her career she has worked with hospitals, small clinics, Rehabilitation Centers, corrections, community-based, school-based, and private practice. 

​She understands the value of and strongly supports the expansion of Medicaid. Not only does it produce jobs, but it prolongs life and the quality of life. 

​Candy often quotes her mother and grandmother by saying, “everybody is somebody’s somebody.” It is because of her wholehearted belief in this that she is able to see the value and worth in all people. Protecting and ensuring health care and its workers are an extension of the effort to value all.

LGBTQ+

Candy believes that everyone is deserving of respect and dignity. We all are God’s children and that love is to be extended to all and not hate.

​Although the LGBTQ form of lifestyle is not right for me. I think their rights should be acknowledged and protected. I believe that people should have the right to be who they are and have the right to love and marry who they chose to love.

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