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'''Zachary Michael "Zach" Dasher''' (born January 12, 1978),<ref>{{cite web|url=</ref> is a pharmaceutical representative based in Calhoun west of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[Louisiana]], who was an unsuccessful [[Republican Party)|Republican]] candidate and a favorite of the [[Tea Party movement]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in the [[primary]] election held on November 4, 2014.

'''Zachary Michael "Zach" Dasher''' (born January 12, 1978),<ref>{{cite web|url=</ref> is a pharmaceutical representative based in Calhoun west of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[Louisiana]], who was an unsuccessful [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate and a favorite of the [[Tea Party movement]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in the [[primary]] election held on November 4, 2014.

Dasher's celebrity maternal uncles are Phil and Si Robertson of the ''[[Duck Dynasty]]'' A&E [[television]] series.​

Dasher's celebrity maternal uncles are Phil and Si Robertson of the ''[[Duck Dynasty]]'' A&E [[television]] series.​

 

== Background ==​

==Background==

Dasher is the son of Gordon Michial Dasher (born August 1952) and the former Janice Ellen Robertson (born May 1951), a Republican couple from West Monroe. Jan Dasher is the sister of Phil and Si Robertson. Zach Dasher received a bachelor's degree in [[Business]] Administration] from the [[Church of Christ]]-affiliated Harding University in  

Dasher is the son of Gordon Michial Dasher (born August 1952) and the former Janice Ellen Robertson (born May 1951), a Republican couple from West Monroe. Jan Dasher is the sister of Phil and Si Robertson. Zach Dasher received a bachelor's degree in [[Business]] Administration] from the [[Church of Christ]]-affiliated Harding University in  

Searcy, [[Arkansas]]. He and his wife of nineteen years, Jill E. Dasher (born February 1981), reside in [[rural]] Calhoun west of West Monroe in western Ouachita Parish. The couple [[home-school]]s their four children — Laela, Max, Baer, and Fred.<ref name="kalb-tv">{{cite news|url = http://www.kalb.com/story/25787028/zach-dasher-announces-candidacy-for-congress-in-la-05|title = Zach Dasher announces candidacy for Congress in LA-05|publisher=KALB-TV Channel 5 ([[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]])|date=June 16, 2014|accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref>​

Searcy, [[Arkansas]]. He and his wife of nineteen years, Jill E. Dasher (born February 1981), reside in [[rural]] Calhoun west of West Monroe in western Ouachita Parish. The couple [[home-school]]s their four children — Laela, Max, Baer, and Fred.<ref name="kalb-tv">{{cite news|url = http://www.kalb.com/story/25787028/zach-dasher-announces-candidacy-for-congress-in-la-05|title = Zach Dasher announces candidacy for Congress in LA-05|publisher=KALB-TV Channel 5 ([[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]])|date=June 16, 2014|accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref>​

On June 16, Dasher announced his candidacy for the seat held by the short-term [[incumbent]], his fellow Republican Vance McAllister of Swartz], located northeast of Monroe in Ouachita Parish. In Louisiana's nonpartisan blanket primary, all candidates compete together on one ballot regardless of party affiliation. Since no candidate obtained a majority vote on November 4, the top two candidates entered a December 6 runoff election, officially called the [[general election]]. Two other Republicans, Ed Tarpley, the former district attorney for Grant Parish, and small businessman Andrew Harris Brown (born June 1965) of Monroe, the son of a former state senator, were the first candidates to enter the race. Other Republicans who ran, included the victorious [[Ralph Abraham]], a [[physician]] and a former [[veterinarian]] from Mangham in Richland Parish and former U.S. Representative and then Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Clyde C. Holloway (1943-2016) of Forest Hill in south Rapides Parish.  Only one [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], [[Mayor]] Jamie Mayo of Monroe, an [[African-American]], ran for the seat. Mayo had also been a candidate in the 2013 [[special election]] for the seat won by Vance McAllister. The ballot further included [[Green Party]] candidate Eliot S. Barron of [[New Orleans]], who lived outside the district, and [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Charles Saucier of Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern Louisiana.<ref name="news-star">{{cite web|url = http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/politics/2014/08/11/duck-dynasty-cousin-leads-th-district-fund-raising/13889249/|title='Duck Dynasty' cousin leads 5th District fundraising |publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=September 15, 2014 |accessdate September 25, 2014|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]}}</ref>​

On June 16, Dasher announced his candidacy for the seat held by the short-term [[incumbent]], his fellow Republican Vance McAllister of Swartz], located northeast of Monroe in Ouachita Parish. In Louisiana's nonpartisan blanket primary, all candidates compete together on one ballot regardless of party affiliation. Since no candidate obtained a majority vote on November 4, the top two candidates entered a December 6 runoff election, officially called the [[general election]]. Two other Republicans, Ed Tarpley, the former district attorney for Grant Parish, and small businessman Andrew Harris Brown (born June 1965) of Monroe, the son of a former state senator, were the first candidates to enter the race. Other Republicans who ran, included the victorious [[Ralph Abraham]], a [[physician]] and a former [[veterinarian]] from Mangham in Richland Parish and former U.S. Representative and then Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Clyde C. Holloway (1943-2016) of Forest Hill in south Rapides Parish.  Only one [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], [[Mayor]] Jamie Mayo of Monroe, an [[African-American]], ran for the seat. Mayo had also been a candidate in the 2013 [[special election]] for the seat won by Vance McAllister. The ballot further included [[Green Party]] candidate Eliot S. Barron of [[New Orleans]], who lived outside the district, and [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Charles Saucier of Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern Louisiana.<ref name="news-star">{{cite web|url = http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/politics/2014/08/11/duck-dynasty-cousin-leads-th-district-fund-raising/13889249/|title='Duck Dynasty' cousin leads 5th District fundraising |publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=September 15, 2014 |accessdate September 25, 2014|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]}}</ref>​

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In his 2014 announcement, Dasher described his reasons for seeking the congressional seat:​<blockquote>For too long, we've sat idly by while [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] politicians slowly gain control over every aspect of our lives. ... We did not send people to Washington to determine our rights. We sent them there to defend our rights, but that's not what they're doing.<ref name="hay ride">{{cite web|ur=http://thehayride.com/2014/06/more-ducks-for-congress-phil-robertson-nephew-announces-la-05-run/|title=More ducks for Congress: Phil Robertson's nephew announces LA-05 run|author=Scott McKay |date=June 16, 2014 |accessdate=September 28, 2014|publisherr= ''The Hay Ride''}}</ref>​</blockquote>

In his 2014 announcement, Dasher described his reasons for seeking the congressional seat:​<blockquote>For too long, we've sat idly by while [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] politicians slowly gain control over every aspect of our lives. ... We did not send people to Washington to determine our rights. We sent them there to defend our rights, but that's not what they're doing.<ref name="hay ride">{{cite web|ur=http://thehayride.com/2014/06/more-ducks-for-congress-phil-robertson-nephew-announces-la-05-run/|title=More ducks for Congress: Phil Robertson's nephew announces LA-05 run|author=Scott McKay|date=June 16, 2014|accessdate=September 28, 2014|publisherr= ''The Hay Ride''}}</ref>​</blockquote>

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Dasher has stated that had he been elected, he would have sought to reduce federal spending, for balancing of the federal budget, for free market principles, for a "child's right to life," for gun ownership rights under the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], and for privatization of veteran's insurance, for reduction of [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] regulations, for policy encouraging domestic production of energy, and for repeal of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], also known as [[Obamacare]].

Dasher has stated that had he been elected, he would have sought to reduce federal spending, for balancing of the federal budget, for free market principles, for a "child's right to life," for gun ownership rights under the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], and for privatization of veteran's insurance, for reduction of [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] regulations, for policy encouraging domestic production of energy, and for repeal of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], also known as [[Obamacare]].