St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana

St. Tammany Parish voters head to the polls Nov. 3 to elect a new sheriff for the first time in over 30 years without Jack Strain or Randy Smith on the ballot, filling the remaining 18 months of Smith's term after his resignation and guilty plea to second-degree battery. Interim Sheriff Bret Ibert will retire once a successor is sworn in this January. Four candidates are running: former Louisiana State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges, retired U.S. Marshal Scott Illing, retired bomb-squad commander David Maki, and former Slidell Police interim chief Daniel Seuzeneau. Each emphasizes transparency, staff morale, and budget fixes. Without a majority winner, a runoff follows Dec. 12.

Treone Larvadain, the first Black female captain in Louisiana State Police history, has filed a lawsuit against retired Col. Robert Hodges, the agency's former superintendent, alleging age and gender discrimination and retaliation. The suit, filed in East Baton Rouge Parish, claims Hodges vowed to purge "DEI" employees, tried to transfer her against her wishes, then demoted and marginalized her after she refused, ultimately forcing her resignation with reduced retirement pay. The EEOC closed its review without a determination, clearing the way for litigation. Hodges, now a candidate for St. Tammany Parish Sheriff in the November 3 election, called the allegations false and "frivolous."

Federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against Covington, Louisiana brothers Omar and Abdel Adhami, alleging they used Snapchat, Instagram and WhatsApp to solicit more than $80,000 from followers for Hamas, often posting pro-Hamas imagery. The FBI and NYPD investigation found Abdel Adhami allegedly sent roughly $80,000 via PayPal to associates of Saleem Alzaq, described as his handler in Gaza, between November 2023 and February of this year, while Omar allegedly sent about $6,000. Abdel faces charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization, wire fraud and money laundering; Omar faces material support and wire fraud counts. Alzaq has separately been indicted in Manhattan for raising nearly $1.75 million for Hamas.

In an unrelated state case, the brothers, their wives and another sibling were arrested October 7 on charges of defrauding Louisiana's Medicaid program of more than $224,000 by allegedly underreporting income. All five, arrested earlier at St. Tammany Parish Jail, face state felony theft and benefits fraud charges, to be prosecuted locally alongside the separate federal terrorism case.

Louisiana's open primary election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting held Oct. 20-27. The ballot features a crowded U.S. Senate race to replace Rep. Julia Letlow, who is stepping down after President Trump's endorsement, pitting her against Democrat Jamie Davis. Several U.S. House races are also at stake, including incumbents Steve Scalise, Troy Carter, and Clay Higgins, plus a wide-open contest for Letlow's 5th District seat and the newly redrawn, majority-white 6th District vacated by Cleo Fields.

Down-ballot contests include the influential Public Service Commissioner District 1 seat, St. Tammany Parish sheriff (following ex-Sheriff Randy Smith's guilty plea in an assault case), Plaquemines Parish president, and Bogalusa mayor, where incumbent Tyrin Truong faces criminal charges. Races without a majority winner will proceed to a December runoff, a likely outcome in several multi-candidate congressional and local contests.

Four candidates vying to become the next St. Tammany Parish sheriff faced off in a debate at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, addressing how they would restore public trust after former Sheriff Randy Smith resigned this summer following a guilty plea to second-degree battery and a misdemeanor charge. The candidates — retired State Police Colonel Robert Hodges, U.S. Marshal Scott Illing, retired St. Tammany Deputy David Maki, and Slidell Police Officer Daniel Seuzeneau — each fielded questions about transparency, accountability, and their individual records.

Illing defended his readiness despite being retired, while Maki addressed scrutiny over a fatal hit-and-run case handled during his tenure. Hodges, who has drawn support from Gov. Jeff Landry, said the governor played no role in his campaign's PAC funding. Seuzeneau distanced himself from his brief stint under Smith's administration. All four candidates backed auditing the sheriff's department and forming a citizen advisory committee. Voters will choose the parish's next sheriff on Election Day in November.