Former Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has endorsed Democrat Pat Forbes, a former top aide, in the state's 6th Congressional District race.
Forbes, who ran the Office of Community Development under Edwards, qualified Aug. 6 for the Nov. 3 open primary election.
Qualifying for all six Louisiana U.S. House seats is underway in Baton Rouge and continues through Aug. 7.
Forbes joins Lindsay "Rubia" Garcia as a second Democrat in the race.
Garcia, a former teacher, civilian federal defense employee and recent Southern University Law School graduate, also qualified Thursday.
Garcia previously earned the Louisiana Democratic Party's endorsement when she qualified in February for the 5th District race, but those House elections were canceled after the Legislature drew a new congressional map to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The new 6th District now includes the capital region with Baton Rouge as the hub. Garcia will have to seek the party's nomination again after qualifying, but remains confident she has the support to do so.
Louisiana lawmakers redrew the 6th District boundaries to favor Republicans. It has been a majority-Black district that favored Democrats represented by Congressman Cleo Fields, who isn't seeking reelection under the new map.
Forbes, who oversaw the dispersment of about $20 billion in federal recovery grants following Hurricane Katrina, said he's running "because Congress is broke."
"I'm a builder," Forbes said. "I worked under three governors (Democrat Kathleen Blanco, Republican Bobby Jindal and Edwards) and I know how to work with everybody."
Edwards said Washington needs Forbes' "bipartisan approach."
"I've known Pat Forbes my entire life," Edwards said in a statement to USA Today Network. "We grew up together, and I spent eight years working with him as Louisiana recovered from historic storms.
"Pat has spent his career partnering with Republicans and Democrats in some of the most challenging situations. That bipartisan approach to governing is exactly what Washington, D.C. needs right now. Louisiana is best served when we put politics aside, and I know that's exactly what Pat will do in Congress."
Garcia has been running for Congress since qualifying for the previous election in February, building a strong social media audience and acting a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Republican Jeff Landry's decision to cancel the previous elections. No ruling has been issued in the case.
"I will give a voice to the voiceless," she said. "The rules may have changed, but what didn't change is the people need someone in Washington who will answer their calls."
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The Louisiana Legislature redrew the 6th District boundaries to favor a Republican candidate, but Garcia said her platform for affordability, healthcare and education access and clean water are bipartisan issues.
"I don't like to lead with labels," she said. "I'm an American and a patriot."
Republicans Monique Appeaning, Larry Davis, Rick Edmonds and Michael Mebruer all previously qualified for the race Aug. 5.
It's unclear whether Republican state Sen. Blake Miguez will enter the race. He has not returned calls or texts from USA Today Network.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Former Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards weighs in on congressional race