The Louisiana Secretary of State has announced he will not seek reelection.
Kyle Ardoin made the announcement on Tuesday, saying he looks forward to continuing to serve the remainder of his term.
Ardoin was the 44th Secretary of State for Louisiana.
He is a resident of Baton Rouge and was elected in December 2018.
Ardoin was faced with navigating COVID-19 protocols as well as mail-in ballots during the 2020 presidential election.
He has also been vocal about allegations of election fraud and was a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Ardoin released the following statement regarding his decision:
“I have decided not to seek re-election.
"For the last five years, I have had the blessing of serving as Louisiana’s 44thSecretary of State. In that time, we have faced unprecedented challenges including major hurricanes, a global pandemic, and lies about our election processes and procedures. Through it all, I have been able to witness the unyielding dedication of election staff across the state who worked countless late nights and weekends, sometimes putting their own needs on hold, to deliver democracy to the people of Louisiana. I could not be prouder of their work, and being tasked with leading these individuals has been the honor of a lifetime. "I trust that the next Secretary of State will be able to build off of the accomplishments we have achieved in the last five years, including widespread recognition from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, the Heritage Foundation, and the Electoral Integrity Project for our election integrity measures.
"I hope that Louisianans of all political persuasions will stand against the pervasive lies that have eroded trust in our elections by using conspiracies so far-fetched that they belong in a work of fiction. The vast majority of Louisiana’s voters know that our elections are secure and accurate, and it is shameful and outright dangerous that a small minority of vocal individuals have chosen to denigrate the hard work of our election staff and spread unproven falsehoods.
"I am thankful for the tireless work of my staff over these last five years, and for the love and support of my family through the many challenges we have faced. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Louisiana through the remainder of my term.”