Chauna Banks enters congressional race with focus on opportunity and economic security

BATON ROUGE, La. — Chauna Banks is taking her record of public service from the East Baton Rouge Metro Council to the national political stage, officially qualifying as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District.

Banks, who represented Metro Council District 2 from 2013 through 2024, enters the congressional race after more than two decades in public education and years of community and economic development work.

Her campaign is built around a central question facing working families across Louisiana: How can people work hard, raise their families and build a future when the cost of nearly everything continues to rise?

Banks said the answer must begin with putting people ahead of partisan politics.

“This campaign is bigger than one person, one political party or one election,” Banks said. “It is about people.”

She pointed to the rising costs of groceries, housing, utilities, insurance and other necessities as evidence that many families are struggling to maintain financial stability despite working and contributing to their communities.

“If you work every day, you should be able to afford to live, raise your family, own a home and eventually retire with dignity,” Banks said. “Louisiana families should not have to work harder every year just to fall further behind.”

A platform focused on economic mobility

Banks said her congressional agenda would focus heavily on economic opportunity and financial security, including efforts to address the cost of living, protect Social Security and Medicare, expand affordable housing and strengthen federal flood protection and infrastructure programs.

Disaster recovery is also a priority, particularly in a state where flooding, hurricanes and severe weather can disrupt families, businesses and entire communities.

Banks said Louisiana needs stronger federal support for infrastructure and disaster recovery while also ensuring that communities have access to the resources necessary to rebuild.

Small businesses would be another major component of her agenda.

Banks said entrepreneurs and business owners need greater access to capital, federal contracting opportunities and other resources that can help them create jobs and build sustainable businesses.

Her approach reflects her broader argument that economic development should translate into tangible opportunities for residents — not simply growth measured by statistics.

Education must lead somewhere

As an educator, Banks said she views education and workforce preparation as inseparable from economic development.

Her campaign calls for expanded workforce development, apprenticeships and career opportunities while recognizing that young people pursue different paths after high school.

“We must connect education to opportunity,” Banks said. “Whether a young person chooses college, a trade, an apprenticeship, entrepreneurship or another career pathway, we have a responsibility to make sure they are prepared to earn a living and build a future right here in Louisiana.”

That philosophy places career readiness, technical training and entrepreneurship alongside traditional college preparation.

Banks said young people should have multiple avenues to economic independence and should not have to leave Louisiana to find meaningful opportunities.

Public safety and stronger communities

Banks also lists safe communities among her congressional priorities.

Her campaign connects public safety with broader community conditions, including education, employment, economic opportunity and neighborhood investment.

She said government must address the concerns residents experience in their everyday lives while creating conditions in which families and businesses can thrive.

Taking the campaign directly to the district

Banks said she plans to spend the campaign listening to residents throughout the 6th Congressional District rather than relying solely on traditional political messaging.

Her outreach will include conversations with business owners, educators, faith leaders, seniors, young adults, community organizations and other residents.

“I am not entering this race because I believe Washington needs another politician,” Banks said. “I am running because Washington needs more people who understand what happens at the kitchen table, in our classrooms, in our neighborhoods and inside our small businesses.”

That local perspective is central to Banks' campaign as she seeks to move from municipal government to federal office.

She said her experience working directly with residents has given her an understanding of how federal policies can eventually affect families at the local level.

A call for common ground

Although Banks is running as a Democrat, she said her campaign will seek support across traditional political divisions.

“We may not agree on every issue, but we can agree that Louisiana families deserve opportunity, safe communities, strong schools, thriving businesses and a government that respects the people it serves,” she said.

Banks is calling her campaign “People Before Politics,” a phrase that she says reflects her intention to focus on residents rather than partisan divisions.

“I am ready to listen. I am ready to work,” Banks said. “And today, I am officially asking the people of Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District for the opportunity to serve them in the United States Congress.”

A record of public service

Banks brings experience in local government, education, ministry and community advocacy to the congressional contest.

She served on the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council representing District 2 from 2013 through 2024 and has more than 20 years of experience in public education.

Banks earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Southern University. Her professional and public-service career has included work involving education, workforce development, economic opportunity and community advancement.

Now, she is seeking to take that experience to Washington, campaigning on a message that economic security, educational opportunity, infrastructure, small-business development and strong communities should be central to Louisiana's future.

The congressional campaign marks the next chapter in a public-service career that began at the local level and is now seeking a broader platform in the nation's capital.