BATON ROUGE - Candidates for the 5th Congressional District answered questions about inflation, the Iran war, a new farm bill and Congress' obligations to regulate AI during a forum on Monday.

PAR Louisiana hosted the forum, which also included a few minutes for candidates to introduce themselves, discuss their backgrounds, and state their positions on issues affecting Louisiana's 5th Congressional District.

Dist. 33 State Senator Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, has served as a Louisiana Senator for the last seven years. During the forum, he said he wants to connect veterans with more job opportunities and has made it easier for veterans leaving the military to qualify for TOPS. As an Army veteran who served for two decades, he said the issue is important to him.

Candidate Misti Cordell spent most of her career in pharmaceutical sales, and now owns her own health care consulting firm. Jeff Landry appointed her Chair of the Louisiana Board of Regents in 2024. Cordell said she’s visited many schools to better understand higher education and what students or teachers needed to improve the district.

Dist. 14 State Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, has served as the House majority leader for the past seven years. Along with the legislature, Echols said he has served his community through non-profit involvement and volunteer work for the last 30 years. He said improvements are needed in Congress to include more business professionals to better the future for the next generation.

Dist. 22 State Rep. Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, has been in the State Legislature since 2019, and in 2024 he became Chairman of the House of Insurance Committee. He has focused on different reforms, including protecting churches from disruptions. Firment said he wants to be the person people can count on to deliver results.

Democratic candidate Dan McKay was in the U.S. Army for three years. With that background, McKay says he wants to do what he can to help end the war in Iran.

Dist. 17 State Rep. Pat Moore, D-Monroe, said that hearing what people have to say is most important to her. She wants people to know that she can be a voice for citizens.

Election day is Nov. 3.