Miguez decides not to run for District 49 Representative seat

District 49 will be voting for a new state representative for the October election in 2023.
This month, current District 49 representative Blake Miguez officially announced he will be running for Senate District 22 currently held by Sen. Fred Mills.
District 22 consists of Iberia, St. Martin and Lafayette parishes.
Mills can not seek reelection because of term limits.
Miguez, who is from Jeanerette, has been the state rep for two terms and still had another term left to serve. His final day as a state rep in District 49 will be Dec. 31, 2023.
“It has been an immense honor and privilege to represent House District 49 for the past eight years,” Miguez said. “Vermilion Parish is more than just a district to me; it’s family. Regardless of district boundaries, I will always be a voice for the people of Vermilion. As I pursue the State Senate seat, representing a different part of South Louisiana, I will always hold Vermilion Parish close to my heart.”
With Miguez not running, it opens up the state rep seat for someone who lives in the district.
Before Miguez, Simone Champagne of Jeanerette was the state rep in District 49. She was the state rep for seven years.
For the last 15 years, District 49 consisted only of Vermilion and Iberia parishes. The newly drawn up District 49 is now made up of three parishes. The parishes are Iberia, Vermilion and Lafayette parishes.
The new district lines now has 17,137 people from Lafayette Parish, 14,563 from Vermilion Parish and 13,970 from Iberia Parish.
Thus far, three people have thrown their name into the race for state rep in District 49. Jacob Landry from Erath, along with a candidate from Youngsville and a candidate from Iberia Parish are expected to qualify.
Miguez said he will continue to look out for Vermilion Parish.
“In the world of politics, district lines may exist, but they do not limit my dedication or commitment. Vermilion remains at the core of my heart,” he said. “I believe that Louisiana’s greatest asset is its people. While on the campaign trail, I often emphasize the importance of the people of Louisiana. When I opposed the redistricting plan, I did so with the understanding that real people reside behind these lines, and these lines are merely on paper. As a State Senator, I will carry with me the unwavering commitment of never forgetting who I am, where I came from, or who sent me.”