Candidate · November 3, 2026
Michael Echols
On the ballot for U.S. House · Louisiana's 5th District
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $3.2M
- cash on hand
- $889K
- issues with public statements
- 12
- outside spending for or against
- $245K
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. House · Louisiana's 5th District1, |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Republican1, |
| Status | Open seat — no incumbent is running for this seat. |
| How it's decided | Louisiana runs this race as an open primary: every candidate appears on one ballot regardless of party, a candidate who wins a majority is elected, and if no one does, the top two vote-getters meet in a general election on December 12, 2026.3, |
| Also on the ballot |
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§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
His campaign website says he represents District 14 in the Louisiana House of Representatives and chairs the House Republican Delegation.5 It says he earned degrees in accounting and an MBA at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and is a licensed contractor and a commercial real estate investor and builder.5 It says he has served as president of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, president of the Monroe Kiwanis Club, chairman of the Louisiana State Arts Council and president of the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation.5 It also says he hosts a commentary show called Echols @ Eight on KMLB.5
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitemichaelechols.com5,
6 - Facebookfacebook.com/MichaelEchols4Louisiana5
- X (Twitter)x.com/MichaelEchols5
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website says runaway federal spending drove inflation and that Washington's spending needs to be reined in.7
His campaign website says the work of DOGE exposed waste, fraud and abuse in the federal bureaucracy and that Congress should audit federal agencies aggressively, expose wasteful spending and eliminate programs that no longer serve the public.7
Foreign Policy and Defense
His campaign website says he supports rebuilding the military and making sure troops have the resources they need to succeed.7
His campaign website says Congress should push back on unfair Chinese trade practices by enforcing fair trade rules, protecting American intellectual property and preventing hostile foreign governments from buying strategic land near military bases or critical infrastructure.7
Immigration
His campaign website says illegal immigrants must be barred entirely from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits and that legal immigrants who take welfare should lose the opportunity to become U.S. citizens in the future.7
His campaign website says those who enter the country illegally must be returned to their home countries and that any immigrant caught defrauding taxpayers should be denaturalized and deported.7
Elections and Government Reform
His campaign website says he strongly supports nationwide voter ID laws so that only eligible citizens vote.7
His campaign website says he supports the SAVE Act, which it describes as requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections.7
- Require documents proving citizenship to register
- Check citizenship against government records instead of requiring documents
- Keep relying on applicants' sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, that they are citizens
Energy and Climate
His campaign website says he will work to reform the federal permitting process that delays critical infrastructure projects.7
Agriculture and Rural Life
His campaign website says USDA disaster and commodity assistance are helping farmers stay afloat but that more must be done, including wider access to 90/10 guaranteed loans, and that farmers need stability and a fair marketplace rather than handouts.7
Infrastructure and Transportation
His campaign website says infrastructure investment should prioritize expanding highway capacity, repairing aging bridges and modernizing transportation systems, and that Congress should support improvements to the Mississippi River shipping corridor and ports.7
Abortion and Reproductive Health
His campaign website says he is pro-life and will stand up for the unborn and support policies that defend the sanctity of life.7
§4Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.8
| Raised | $3,188,840 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $2,299,888 |
| Cash on hand | $888,952 |
| Debts owed by the campaign | $1,580,000 |
Where the money came from
Outside spending
Groups spending independently reported $160,383 supporting and $85,000 opposing Michael Echols this cycle, primary and general combined, in the 24- and 48-hour reports the law requires for larger expenditures, filed through October 19, 2026.9
| Group | Supporting | Opposing |
|---|---|---|
| LOUISIANA GROWTH AND FUTURE FUND | $141,018 | — |
| BUILDING A STRONG AMERICA | — | $85,000 |
| GOPAC Election Fund | $19,365 | — |
Smaller expenditures that appear only on a group's regular monthly or quarterly report aren't in these totals, so the full amounts can be somewhat higher. When a group amends a report, only its latest version is counted.
§5Financial disclosures
Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.
- Candidate financial disclosure report10filed Sep 18, 2026