Changes

==Party bolt==

==Party bolt==

In 2010, Mills joined several legislative colleagues in switching allegiance from the Democrats to the Republicans.<ref name=barrow>{{cite news|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/2-qualify-for-House-seat.html|author=Bill Barrow|title=St. Martin lawmaker dons GOP garb: Party switch latest in Louisiana trend|date=December 14, 2010|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Others who made the switch in December 2010 were Representative [[Noble Ellington]] of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish and state Senators [[John Alario]] of Westwego in Jefferson Parish, and John R. Smith  of Leesville  in Vernon Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20101209/NEWS01/12090317|title=Ellington considers party switch|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=December 9, 2010|accessdate=December 11, 2010}}</ref>   

In 2010, Mills joined several legislative colleagues in switching allegiance from the Democrats to the Republicans.<ref name=barrow>{{cite news|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/2-qualify-for-House-seat.html|author=Bill Barrow|title=St. Martin lawmaker dons GOP garb: Party switch latest in Louisiana trend|date=December 14, 2010|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Others who made the switch in December 2010 were Representative [[Noble Ellington]] of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish and state Senators [[John Alario]] of Westwego in Jefferson Parish, and John R. Smith  of Leesville  in Vernon Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20101209/NEWS01/12090317|title=Ellington considers party switch|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=December 9, 2010|accessdate=December 11, 2010}}</ref>  Though Mills switched parties, he is a [[Moderate Republican]], not a conservative.

Mills polled 12,812 votes in the special Senate election, or 60 percent of the total. The runner-up, [[conservative]] [[Simone Champagne]], then of Jeanerette, another recent Republican convert and formerly a state representative for Iberia Parish, received 4,040 votes (19 percent). Champagne campaigned as a "[[Ronald Reagan|Reagan Republican]]" and had the open support of [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]]. Independent David Groner finished third with 2,534 votes (12 percent). The remaining ballots favoredtwo other Republican candidates and a second Independent hopeful. No Democrats sought the position.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 22, 2011.</ref>

Mills polled 12,812 votes in the special Senate election, or 60 percent of the total. The runner-up, [[conservative]] [[Simone Champagne]], then of Jeanerette, another recent Republican convert and formerly a state representative for Iberia Parish, received 4,040 votes (19 percent). Champagne campaigned as a "[[Ronald Reagan|Reagan Republican]]" and had the open support of [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]]. Independent David Groner finished third with 2,534 votes (12 percent). The remaining ballots favoredtwo other Republican candidates and a second Independent hopeful. No Democrats sought the position.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 22, 2011.</ref>

Considered a [[Moderate Republican]], Mills came under fire in September 2020 from the conservative [[radio]] commentator [[Moon Griffon]], who questioned Mills' close ties to Democratic [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]] and former Public Service Commissioner [[Scott Angelle]], another Democrat-turned-Republican who refused to support the 2015 gubernatorial runoff candidate, former U.S. Senator [[David Vitter]], after Angelle himself was eliminated in the primary. Angelle now serves in the [[Donald Trump]] administration. Griffon said that though he personally likes Mills he believes that the senator lacks compassion for people who have suffered economic effects from the [[Coronavirus]] [[pandemic]]. Griffon has called for the reopening of the semi-closed Louisiana economy, but Edwards and Mills have been hesitant to do so. Griffon said that those who wish to keep controls on the economy are almost entirely persons who have not suffered economic consequences from the shutdown.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' September 25, 2020.</ref>

Considered a [[Moderate Republican]], Mills came under fire in September 2020 from the conservative [[radio]] commentator [[Moon Griffon]], who questioned Mills' close ties to Democratic [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]] and former Public Service Commissioner [[Scott Angelle]], another Democrat-turned-Republican who refused to support the 2015 gubernatorial runoff candidate, former U.S. Senator [[David Vitter]], after Angelle himself was eliminated in the primary. Angelle now serves in the [[Donald Trump]] administration. Griffon said that though he personally likes Mills he believes that the senator lacks compassion for people who have suffered economic effects from the [[Coronavirus]] [[pandemic]]. Griffon has called for the reopening of the semi-closed Louisiana economy, but Edwards and Mills have been hesitant to do so. Griffon said that those who wish to keep controls on the economy are almost entirely persons who have not suffered economic consequences from the shutdown.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' September 25, 2020.</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Former Democrats]]

[[Category:Former Democrats]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Pro-Life]]

[[Category:Pro-Life]]