Changes

However, Stokes has voted conservative on several issues important to Republican voters. In 2016, she voted to restrict state support for [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]] which refuse to enforce laws against [[illegal immigration]]. In 2017, she co-sponsored the measure that requires a parent to give identification regarding an [[abortion]] on a minor child. In 2014, she voted to require abortionists to have local hospital admitting privileges. Since she entered the legislature, she has been rated 100 percent by the Right to Life Committee. Stokes also voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] school standards program and co-sponsored legislation that year to permit concealed carry of firearms in restaurant serving alcohol.<ref name=projectvotesmart/> In 2018, Stokes voted to support Governor John Bel Edwards' .45 percent renewal of the temporary one-cent state sales tax. The Edward financial package includes no cuts in state government programs.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', June 25, 2018.</ref> Griffon said that Stokes sometimes votes against "big government" measures but only if her vote is not necessary for passage of the legislation. He said that she has backed higher taxes from the day she arrived in the legislature.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 26, 2018.</ref>

However, Stokes has voted conservative on several issues important to Republican voters. In 2016, she voted to restrict state support for [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]] which refuse to enforce laws against [[illegal immigration]]. In 2017, she co-sponsored the measure that requires a parent to give identification regarding an [[abortion]] on a minor child. In 2014, she voted to require abortionists to have local hospital admitting privileges. Since she entered the legislature, she has been rated 100 percent by the Right to Life Committee. Stokes also voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] school standards program and co-sponsored legislation that year to permit concealed carry of firearms in restaurant serving alcohol.<ref name=projectvotesmart/> In 2018, Stokes voted to support Governor John Bel Edwards' .45 percent renewal of the temporary one-cent state sales tax. The Edward financial package includes no cuts in state government programs.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', June 25, 2018.</ref> Griffon said that Stokes sometimes votes against "big government" measures but only if her vote is not necessary for passage of the legislation. He said that she has backed higher taxes from the day she arrived in the legislature.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 26, 2018.</ref>

In March 2018, in remission from cancer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/julie_stokes_illness.html|title=Louisiana Rep. Julie Stokes' breast cancer surgery was 'successful'|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=January 3, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes announced that she would consider running in 2019 for the secretary of state position which Republican [[Tom Schedler]] of St. Tammany Parish vacated after allegations of [[sexual harassment]] were brought against him by one of his female office employes. Schedler vacated the office on May 8, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/03/22/rep-julie-stokes-cancer-free-eyes-secretary-state-race/444754002/|title=Rep. Julie Stokes, cancer free, eyes secretary of state race|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> On May 16, 2018, Stokes announced she would run for the year remaining in Schedler's term. Her opposition includes businessman and former state Sen. Almond Gaston Crowe, Jr. (born 1948), of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish, who served in both legislative chambers from 2000 to 2016; Republican state Representative [[Rick Edmonds]] a [[Southern Baptist]] minister from Baton Rouge (formerly of [[Shreveport]]), who has pledged a "watchdog" role for the office to guarantee that only qualified voters in Louisiana can cast ballots, and Paul Hollis of Covington in St. Tammany Parish, who is expected to announce later in July. Renee Fontenot Free, the official choice of the Louisiana Democratic Executive Committee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/08/20/see-who-la-democrats-pinned-their-hopes-loosen-gop-grip/1041200002/|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 20, 2018|title=See who Louisiana Democrats pinned their hopes on|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> as the only member of her party in the race for secretary of state is a favorite to gain a runoff berth. The interim secretary of state, Kyle Ardoin, is not a candidate to complete Schedler's term.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/27/former-louisiana-lawmaker-enters-secretary-of-stat/|title=Former Louisiana lawmaker enters secretary of state's race|publisher=''[[Washington Times]]''|date=June 27, 2018|accessdate=July 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/07/05/secretary-state-see-whos-whos-out-race/759474002/|title=Secretary of state race: See who's in, who's out|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=Greg Hilburn|date=July 5, 2018|accessdate=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, in remission from cancer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/julie_stokes_illness.html|title=Louisiana Rep. Julie Stokes' breast cancer surgery was 'successful'|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=January 3, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes announced that she would consider running in 2019 for the secretary of state position which Republican [[Tom Schedler]] of St. Tammany Parish vacated after allegations of [[sexual harassment]] were brought against him by one of his female office employes. Schedler vacated the office on May 8, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/03/22/rep-julie-stokes-cancer-free-eyes-secretary-state-race/444754002/|title=Rep. Julie Stokes, cancer free, eyes secretary of state race|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> On May 16, 2018, Stokes announced she would run for the year remaining in Schedler's term. Her opposition includes businessman and former state Sen. Almond Gaston Crowe, Jr. (born 1948), of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish, who served in both legislative chambers from 2000 to 2016; Republican state Representative [[Rick Edmonds]], a [[Southern Baptist]] minister from Baton Rouge (formerly of [[Shreveport]]), who has pledged a "watchdog" role for the office to guarantee that only qualified voters in Louisiana can cast ballots, and Paul Hollis of Covington in St. Tammany Parish, who is expected to announce later in July. Renee Fontenot Free, the official choice of the Louisiana Democratic Executive Committee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/08/20/see-who-la-democrats-pinned-their-hopes-loosen-gop-grip/1041200002/|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 20, 2018|title=See who Louisiana Democrats pinned their hopes on|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> as the only member of her party in the race for secretary of state is a favorite to gain a runoff berth. The interim secretary of state, Kyle Ardoin, is not a candidate to complete Schedler's term.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/27/former-louisiana-lawmaker-enters-secretary-of-stat/|title=Former Louisiana lawmaker enters secretary of state's race|publisher=''[[Washington Times]]''|date=June 27, 2018|accessdate=July 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/07/05/secretary-state-see-whos-whos-out-race/759474002/|title=Secretary of state race: See who's in, who's out|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=Greg Hilburn|date=July 5, 2018|accessdate=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

==References==

==References==