Changes

|birth_date=May 1966

|birth_date=May 1966

|birth_place=[[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]

|birth_place=[[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]

|spouse=Dianah Lee Crews

|spouse=Dianah Lee Crews<br>

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

|religion=[[Southern Baptist]]

|religion=[[Southern Baptist]]

Crews won a special runoff election held on April 29, 2017, to choose the successor to [[Mike Johnson|James Michael "Mike" Johnson]], who after less than two years in the state legislature was elected in 2016 to fill Louisiana's 4th congressional district vacated by [[John Fleming]], an unsuccessful candidate for the [[United States Senate]]. Crews defeated fellow Republican Robert Hal "Robbie" Gatti, Jr. (born March 1970), the brother of Louisiana state Senator [[Ryan Gatti]], a Bossier City lawyer who is a confidant of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. In a 21 percent turnout of fewer than 6,000 voters of a qualified electorate of nearly 29,000, Crews polled 3,845 votes (64 percent) to Gatti's 2,150 (36 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical |title=Election Results|date=April 29, 2017|publisher= Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref>

Crews won a special runoff election held on April 29, 2017, to choose the successor to [[Mike Johnson|James Michael "Mike" Johnson]], who after less than two years in the state legislature was elected in 2016 to fill Louisiana's 4th congressional district vacated by [[John Fleming]], an unsuccessful candidate for the [[United States Senate]]. Crews defeated fellow Republican Robert Hal "Robbie" Gatti, Jr. (born March 1970), the brother of Louisiana state Senator [[Ryan Gatti]], a Bossier City lawyer who is a confidant of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. In a 21 percent turnout of fewer than 6,000 voters of a qualified electorate of nearly 29,000, Crews polled 3,845 votes (64 percent) to Gatti's 2,150 (36 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical |title=Election Results|date=April 29, 2017|publisher= Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref>

A 17-year veteran of the [[United States Air Force]], Crews said that his victory is proof that district voters want a "true conservative" in the mold of Mike Johnson, who endorsed Crews as his state House successor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2017/04/29/crews-wins-district-8-house-race/101083150/|title=Crews wins District 8 House race|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'' |author= Barbara Leader |date= April 30, 2017 |accessdate= May 1, 2017}}</ref>  

A 17-year veteran of the [[United States Air Force]], nine in active duty, he flew B-52 bombers in combat in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]]. Crews said that his election to the state House proves that district voters want a "true [[conservative]]" in the mold of Mike Johnson, who endorsed Crews as his state House successor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2017/04/29/crews-wins-district-8-house-race/101083150/|title=Crews wins District 8 House race|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|author= Barbara Leader|date= April 30, 2017 |accessdate= May 1, 2017}}</ref>  

In the first round of balloting on March 25, Crews finished first in a four-candidate all-Republican field, with  2,144 votes (41 percent), followed by Gatti, who received 1,947 votes (37 percent). In third place was Michael Durrell "Duke" Lowrie (born April 1970) of Benton,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=State Representative - 8th District|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=March 26, 2017}}</ref> who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2011 against fellow Republican Jefferson Rowe "Jeff" Thompson of Bossier City.  

In the first round of balloting on March 25, Crews finished first in a four-candidate all-Republican field, with  2,144 votes (41 percent), followed by Gatti, who received 1,947 votes (37 percent). In third place was Michael Durrell "Duke" Lowrie (born April 1970) of Benton,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=State Representative - 8th District|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=March 26, 2017}}</ref> who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2011 against fellow Republican Jefferson Rowe "Jeff" Thompson of Bossier City.  

The fourth placed candidate, Patrick Harrington, subsequently endorsed Crews, as did U.S. Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]], neighboring state Representative Dodie Horton, and Louisiana state Attorney General [[Jeff Landry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2017/04/jeff-landry-endorses-raymond-crews-in-runoff/|title=http://thehayride.com/2017/04/jeff-landry-endorses-raymond-crews-in-runoff/|title=Jeff Landry endorses Raymond Crews in runoff|publisher=Thehayride.com|accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref>

The fourth placed candidate, Patrick Harrington, subsequently endorsed Crews, as did U.S. Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]], neighboring state Representative Dodie Horton, and Louisiana state Attorney General [[Jeff Landry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2017/04/jeff-landry-endorses-raymond-crews-in-runoff/|title=http://thehayride.com/2017/04/jeff-landry-endorses-raymond-crews-in-runoff/|title=Jeff Landry endorses Raymond Crews in runoff|publisher=Thehayride.com|accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref> Two other Republicans, [[John Stefanski]] in District 42 and [[Joe Stagni]] in District 92, also won special elections in 2017 to fill vacancies. Stefanski succeeded a Democrat; Stagni, another Republican.

 

Two other Republicans, [[John Stefanski]] in District 42 and [[Joe Stagni]] in District 92, also won special elections in 2017 to fill vacancies. Stefanski succeeded a Democrat; Stagni, another Republican.

In April 2018, Representative Crews endorsed the state House-passed budget which critics claim will gut state hospitals and higher education and faces likely defeat in the state Senate. Crews said that Governor John Bel Edwards has exaggerated the state's fiscal condition in a bid to convince lawmakers to raise taxes once more. Crews noted that under the House budget hospitals will have $4 billion more than they had a few years ago. He said the principal medical problem comes from the expansion of [[Medicaid]], which does not reimburse physicians commensurate with their services rendered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/rep-raymond-crews-problems-not-nearly-as-severe-as-the-governor-is-letting-on-video/|title=Rep. Raymond Crews problems not nearly as severe as the governor is letting on|publisher=KEEL Radio||date=April 20, 2018}}</ref>  

In April 2018, Representative Crews endorsed the state House-passed budget which critics claim will gut state hospitals and higher education and faces likely defeat in the state Senate. Crews said that Governor John Bel Edwards has exaggerated the state's fiscal condition in a bid to convince lawmakers to raise taxes once more. Crews noted that under the House budget hospitals will have $4 billion more than they had a few years ago. He said the principal medical problem comes from the expansion of [[Medicaid]], which does not reimburse physicians commensurate with their services rendered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/rep-raymond-crews-problems-not-nearly-as-severe-as-the-governor-is-letting-on-video/|title=Rep. Raymond Crews problems not nearly as severe as the governor is letting on|publisher=KEEL Radio||date=April 20, 2018}}</ref>  

==References==

==References==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crews, Raymond}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crews, Raymond}}

[[Category:Louisiana People]]

[[Category:Louisiana People]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Baptists]]

[[Category:Baptists]]

[[Category:United States Air Force]]

[[Category:United States Air Force]]