U.S. House · Louisiana's 5th District
Misti Cordell
CandidateR
- Race
- U.S. House · Louisiana's 5th District
- Result
- Goes to a runoff
- Opponents
- Michael Echols (R); Gabe Firment (R); Stewart Cathey (R); Oscar Dantzler (R); Austin Magee (R); Dan McKay (D); Patricia Moore (D); Antonio Wilson (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did1 statement · 0 votes
I'll vote pro-life, defend women’s sports, protect religious freedom, and stand unapologetically for the values that have shaped our communities for generations.
Protect legal access to abortion
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 5
2026-11-03
| Michael Echols R | challenger |
| Misti Cordell R | challenger |
| Gabe Firment R | challenger |
| Stewart Cathey R | challenger |
| Oscar Dantzler R | challenger |
| Austin Magee R | challenger |
| Dan McKay D | challenger |
| Patricia Moore D | challenger |
| Antonio Wilson D | challenger |
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
I'll vote pro-life, defend women’s sports, protect religious freedom, and stand unapologetically for the values that have shaped our communities for generations.
Says she will vote pro-life.[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Misti Cordell is a Monroe Republican who chairs the Louisiana Board of Regents, the board that coordinates public higher education in the state. She previously worked in health care recruiting and as an outreach representative in the Louisiana Attorney General's office. The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed her in this race in late August 2026, and she describes herself as the only political outsider in the field.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Cordell graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor's degree in human resource management and lives in Monroe, according to the Board of Regents; the Louisiana Illuminator's voter guide lists her as being from West Monroe and as the owner of a healthcare business.[2][5] As of the Board of Regents' 2024 announcement she worked as a physician recruiter for Affinity Health Group in Monroe.[2] She served on Gov. Jeff Landry's Health and Hospitals Transition Team and as an outreach representative for the Louisiana Attorney General's Office.[2]
Cordell was sworn in as an at-large member of the Louisiana Board of Regents on March 27, 2024, for a term that expires December 31, 2029, and the governor appointed her chair in September 2024.[1][2][5] She serves or has served on the boards of MedCamps of Louisiana, the CenturyNext Bank advisory board, the Ouachita Parish Library and the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum.[2]
The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed Cordell for this race at the end of August 2026.[3] Some opponents criticized the process, and Cordell described the endorsement as the product of her own outreach to State Central Committee members.[3]
In their own words
Priorities
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Stricter gun laws
“I’ll back our law enforcement, protect your Second Amendment rights, and restore law and order so criminals fear the law again.”[4]
On her campaign website's platform page
- Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
“I’ll secure the border, finish the wall, stop illegal immigration, shut down the cartels, and put Louisiana workers first.”[4]
On her campaign website's platform page
- Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
“I’ll fight for school choice, oppose woke indoctrination, and return education to local communities where it belongs.”[4]
On her campaign website's platform page
- Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports
“I believe every child deserves protection, girls’ sports should be fair, and parents should guide their families.”[4]
On her campaign website's platform page
Campaign money$556K raised · 61% from individuals · FEC through 2026-07-18
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $337K
- PACs & committees $13K
- Own money & loans $207K
Largest committee contributions
- Value in Electing Women Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Denham for Congress Candidate committee$1,000
- Acadian Ambulance Service Employee Federal Political Action Committee, Inc. PAC$500
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/misti-cordell
Compare all 9 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Board of Regents Members · Louisiana Board of Regents · 2026-10-21 Official record
- 2.Regents Swears In New Board Member · Louisiana Board of Regents · 2024-03-27 Official record
- 3.LA GOP endorses Misti Cordell for the 5th District Congressional seat · KNOE · 2026-08-31 News report
- 4.Platform · Cordell for Congress Candidate's own words
- 5.5th Congressional District | Voter Guide: Election 2026 · Louisiana Illuminator · 2026-10-19 News report