Two members of the Louisiana Legislature’s Freedom Caucus said their group isn’t responsible for sending an anti-LGBTQ+ text message maligning a gay Republican candidate. The listed sponsor of the text campaign has a similar name — but apparently no connection.

A mass text went out to potential voters in the city of Central on election day last weekend telling them not to support “Woke” Aaron Moak, a gay Republican running for the Louisiana House District 65 seat. Moak is also a member of the Baton Rouge Metro Council.

“Woke Aaron Moak is a big name in House District 65, but he’s wrong for one of the most conservative districts in the state,” read the text. “You don’t want to give a promotion to the man responsible for bringing the Gay Pride parade to Baton Rouge do you? Well that’s Woke Aaron Moak.”

The Louisiana Freedom Caucus PAC text sent in opposition to Aaron Moak.

Moak, who failed to make the runoff election, was one of five Republicans in the race. He received 18% of the vote. The two GOP candidates advancing – Brandon Ivey and Laura Ventrella – received 32% and 27% of the vote respectively.

Moak and Scott Wilfong, Moak’s political consultant, said they don’t think the text made a difference in the outcome of the election. It was sent in the middle of the day after many people had already cast their ballots and Moak fell short of making the runoff election by large margin, approximately 1,000 votes.

Prior to the text, Moak’s sexuality had not been an issue in the campaign. The official has run as an openly gay man in his elections for the Baton Rouge Metro Council and Central city government.

“Nobody said anything in this race until noon on Saturday,” Moak said. “[But] I expected it to happen. I expected it even more if I made the runoff.”

Along with the written text, the message included an image of Moak wearing a shiny, pink jacket leading a parade of marchers carrying transgender pride flags and a pink sign with “Protect Trans Kids” on the front.

A reverse Google image search revealed the original photo of the marchers was taken in South Carolina, not Louisiana, Moak said. The image of Moak in the pink jacket was layered on top of that image at a later date.

Baton Rouge has a LGBTQ+ Pride festival but not a Pride parade. Moak, the first openly gay elected official in Baton Rouge, was one of the honorary grand marshals at Baton Rouge Pride in 2019, but is not a founding member of the organization.

“I’ve never been part of a parade for any cause,” Moak said. “I’ve never led one and I’ve never put one together.”

There’s also been some confusion about who is responsible for sending the text. The message said it was paid for by the Louisiana Freedom Caucus PAC, which is apparently operates independent from the Louisiana Freedom Caucus started in the state legislature this year.

The legislative Freedom Caucus is made up of a handful of far-right members of the Republican delegation. It mirrors the Congressional Freedom Caucus and doesn’t name its members publicly. A lawmaker can only join if they are personally invited to do so.

Two members who have publicly identified themselves as part of the Freedom Caucus said their organization did not send the text targeting Moak.

“The freedom caucus PAC is different from the legislative freedom caucus,” Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, one of the legislative Freedom Caucus’ founding members, wrote in a text message. “It is very confusing and has caused a number of problems.”

“The freedom caucus in the legislature is made up of legislators. The freedom caucus PAC is loosely affiliated with the same group in Washington, but not affiliated with the house members,” he wrote.

“They have a PAC board that does not include any legislators, and they make independent decisions without legislative input,” said Rep. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, who is a member of the legislative Freedom Caucus and the Louisiana House Republican Caucus chairman.

Scott McKay, who runs The Hayride website for conservatives, is the chairperson of the Freedom Caucus PAC, according to paperwork filed with the Louisiana Ethics Board in April. McKay refused to comment about the PAC’s activities when reached Friday.

“Is this an interview? I’m not doing interviews with the Illuminator,” McKay said before hanging up the phone.

Who funds the Freedom Caucus PAC isn’t clear.

The group hasn’t submitted state reports detailing its contributions and expenditures, as PACs typically do when they are raising and spending money during election cycles. If money coming into the PAC is limited, it may not be required to disclose any of its financial activity until early November.

The PAC lists two people, Peter Egan and Barry Hugghins, as members of its board on the same state ethics form where McKay is listed as chairman.

Egan is a Republican candidate in a runoff for a Louisiana House seat in St. Tammany Parish. Reached by phone, he said he received an endorsement from one of the Freedom Caucus groups, but he wasn’t sure if it was the legislative caucus or the PAC. Egan has never been a member of the PAC’s board, he said.

“I haven’t given or received money from the Freedom Caucus (PAC),” he said. “I have no knowledge of anything related to that.”

Hugghins, a former member of the West Baton Rouge Parish Council, could not be reached for comment at his place of business.

According to its website, the Louisiana Freedom Caucus PAC supports candidates who “fight federal overreach and stand firmly against those — in both parties — who prioritize seizing political power over representing their constituents.”

The Freedom Caucus PAC also promoted an Aug. 29 fundraiser at Metairie Country Club with Republican Attorney General candidate Liz Murrill as the featured speaker. Tickets were expected to cost $150 per person, according to a post on the PAC’s website.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and Twitter.

 
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