Julie O'Donoghue@JSODonoghue

Senior writer at @illuminatorLA; Previously: @stlpublicradio, @NOLANews, @MedillSchool, @macalester; D.C. native; @capitals forever

 Baton Rouge
lailluminator.com
Joined August 2011
3,169 Photos and videos
In Louisiana, rape survivors are denied access to their own medical records. lailluminator.com/2021/12/16…

In Louisiana, rape survivors are denied access to their own medical records • Louisiana Illuminator

In Louisiana, survivors of sexual assault are repeatedly denied copies of their forensic medical exams. There’s no standard approach for releasing sexual assault forensic medical documents to...

lailluminator.com
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Julie O'Donoghue retweeted
Rudi Keller@RudiKellerMI
15h
.@DKChappell, conservative uncle of @ChappellRoan, chosen Majority Leader of the Missouri House #moleg
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I stopped in Natchez (Mississippi) for dinner and I'm tempted to run up to every person and say ... "WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SENATE RACE?" But I'm controlling myself. #lalege
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Lauren McGaughy
@lmcgaughy
Nov 4
Texas may never be the same. nytimes.com/2026/11/04/us/te…

‘An Earthquake’: A Democratic Rout Stuns Texas

In a seismic shift that was once unthinkable, victories by James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa upended decades of statewide dominance in what had been the nation’s most populous conservative state.

nytimes.com
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This is WILD. Mississippi has no law governing a recount?! Story from @MSTODAYnews mississippitoday.org/2026/11…
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Taylor Vance@taylorcvance
13h
Update: Scott Colom is ahead by 1,138 votes with 96% of precincts in.
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Piper Hutchinson@ByPiperHutch
17h
This was at an event announcing the US DOJ is investing $64m in Baton Rouge law enforcement. “I say this is accountability, taking our federal tax dollars, bringing it back to a particular city.” #lalege #lagov
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Piper Hutchinson@ByPiperHutch
17h
Sen. Bill Cassidy: “Everybody's talking about last night. Last night was about accountability. The people of the United States want accountability. They want to see results. They want to see their life better as a result of the people whom they elect.” #lalege #lagov
A man in a suit gestures as he speaks at a podium. Several other men in suits stand behind him.

ALT A man in a suit gestures as he speaks at a podium. Several other men in suits stand behind him.

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Lauren McGaughy
@lmcgaughy
Nov 4
Here at Ken Paxton HQ, man in crowd yells “no!” as race called called for James Talarico. Then “Gloria” begins playing loudly on speakers.
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The Advocate@theadvocatebr
21h
Louisiana’s Steve Scalise will run for GOP minority leader after Democrats take Congress theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/… Speaker Mike Johnson, who is also from Louisiana, is stepping down from leading the GOP in Congress after Democrats decisively took back control in the midterms.
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Alright friends. Best place to get coffee or that might still serve breakfast in Monroe? Tell me soon!
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John Couvillon@WinWithJMC
20h
(9) There was an "urban/rural divide" in the vote among white voters - Davis got the following %ages: Orleans 71% EBR 36% Jefferson 35% Lafayette 34% Ascension and Caddo 31% St Tammany 29% Remaining 57 parishes: 23% For a black candidate with modest funding, this was unusual.
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John Couvillon@WinWithJMC
21h
(5) I calculate that the black vote went 90-10% for Davis (6) We know that the early vote was 62-34.5% white/black (7) JMC has calculated the EDay vote was 67-28% white/black (8) JMC has calculated the final electorate will be 65-30% white/black (2/2)
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John Couvillon@WinWithJMC
21h
(1) Turnout fairly high (49%, compared to 47% in the "Kavanaugh race" in 2022 (2) 36% voted early, and DAVIS won this vote 53.5-46.5% (3) The 64% voting on Election day went 53-47% for Letlow (4) The white vote went 71-29% for Letlow. (1/)
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Democrats have the majority of governorships for the first time in 16 years. #lalege newsfromthestates.com/articl…
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Piper Hutchinson@ByPiperHutch
21h
Jamie Davis conceded the senate race on WBOK radio this morning. Read his statement here: #lalege #lagov
"I congratulate Ms. Letlow and wish her well in serving Louisiana. I mean that. I really do. The farmers and working people, including me, will now depend on her to represent the other 49% and more. To the people who built this campaign, the $19 donors, the July phone bankers, the organizers who showed up before anyone thought this was possible, what you did here cannot be undone by an election result. We proved this race could be run with integrity, without corporate PAC money, and be competitive. That proof doesn't disappear.

ALT "I congratulate Ms. Letlow and wish her well in serving Louisiana. I mean that. I really do. The farmers and working people, including me, will now depend on her to represent the other 49% and more. To the people who built this campaign, the $19 donors, the July phone bankers, the organizers who showed up before anyone thought this was possible, what you did here cannot be undone by an election result. We proved this race could be run with integrity, without corporate PAC money, and be competitive. That proof doesn't disappear.

And as I said last night, Jeff Landry: You are on notice. There are a whole heap of voters who have something to say about how you've been running this state."

ALT And as I said last night, Jeff Landry: You are on notice. There are a whole heap of voters who have something to say about how you've been running this state."

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Melinda Deslatte@MelindaDeslatte
20h
Louisiana’s Steve Scalise will run for GOP minority leader after Democrats take Congress theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/… via @MarkBallardCnb #lalege

Louisiana’s Steve Scalise will run for GOP minority leader after Democrats take Congress

Speaker Mike Johnson, who is also from Louisiana, is stepping down from leading the GOP in Congress after Democrats decisively took back control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections.

theadvocate.com
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I think I like Blacklash more than Blunami as a term.
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The Advocate@theadvocatebr
22h
Louisiana’s Mike Johnson will not run for minority leader after Democrats sweep GOP out of House theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/…

Louisiana’s Mike Johnson will not run for minority leader after Democrats sweep GOP out of House

Louisiana's unprecedented hold on House Republican leadership seems to be ending after Democrats won big in elections Tuesday. Mike Johnson told his staff he won't seek to be the party's minority...

theadvocate.com
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On this morning, this is why Louisiana ain't Mississippi. mississippitoday.org/2026/11…

Mississippi Senate election too close to call

Mississippi’s midterm Senate election remained too close to call Tuesday night as Democrats across the country swept control of Congress.

mississippitoday.org
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What was odd about @jbletlow's victory party is no other statewide elected official attended, even though they are all Republicans. Not @SenJohnKennedy, @LAGovJeffLandry, @AGLizMurrill or anyone else. The party was in Monroe so that might have been a factor but still? #lalege
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