Patrick
"Pat" Forbes
Democrat Pat Forbes, retired Louisiana OCD executive director, runs for LA-6 congressional seat in 2026
- sources
- 12
- positions
- 10
- endorsements
- 5
Background
Patrick "Pat" Forbes is a Democrat from Baton Rouge running for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District seat in the November 3, 2026 general election. He is the former executive director of the Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD), a state agency responsible for administering federal disaster-recovery and mitigation funding; he is now retired from state government. 131617
Before leading the OCD, Forbes served as an engineer in the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and managed the infrastructure section of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. Earlier in his career, he worked as a consulting environmental engineer, owned his own company, and worked at Georgia-Pacific's Port Hudson paper mill. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA, both from Louisiana State University. 108
Forbes has centered his campaign on his administrative and technical experience in federal disaster recovery and community development, positioning that expertise as his primary qualification rather than ideological alignment. 37 The 6th District seat is open, as incumbent Cleo Fields is not seeking reelection to the House. 83
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 6, Louisiana
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Candidate for U.S. Congress, Louisiana's 6th Congressional District (retired state official)
- Website
- patforbes.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 12newsWBRZ and Louisiana Illuminator report Forbes's debate remarks on Iran war driving up gas prices
Coverage of the debate quoted Forbes saying the war in Iran accomplished nothing but raising gas and diesel prices. The Louisiana Illuminator reported his view: 'We started a war that accomplished nothing but raising gas and diesel prices.'
WBRZ hosts 6th Congressional District candidate event · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9debateForbes participates in WBRZ televised debate at Manship Theatre alongside three other candidates
Forbes appeared at the WBRZ debate at Manship Theatre with Democrats Chauna Banks and Lindsay 'Rubia' Garcia, and Republican Rick Edmonds. At the debate, Forbes argued that ending the war in Iran would help reduce fuel and other costs, stating it was driving up gasoline, diesel, and everything else.
WATCH LIVE AT 7PM: WBRZ hosts 6th District Congressional Debate tonight · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8newsForbes campaign reports raising over $100,000 from more than 2,000 donors in first eight weeks
The Forbes campaign announced raising more than $100,000 from over 2,000 individual donors in its first eight weeks. The figures had not yet been independently verified and were expected to appear in a forthcoming FEC filing.
Forbes Campaign Reports Raising More Than $100,000 in First 8 Weeks · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8endorsementForbes endorsed by John Bel Edwards, Mary Landrieu, Mitch Landrieu, Marcia Fudge, and Louisiana Law Enforcement Association
By the time of the fundraising announcement, Forbes had backing from former Gov. John Bel Edwards, former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. That week, his campaign also announced endorsements from former HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge and the Louisiana Law Enforcement Association.
Forbes Campaign Reports Raising More Than $100,000 in First 8 Weeks · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsForbes tells Bayou Progressive his experience, not ideology, is the core of his candidacy
In an interview, Forbes emphasized his state-government and disaster-recovery experience, claiming a level of relationships in D.C. and local government that no other candidate possesses. He also said the decision to run was his and his wife's, not a political figure's.
Pat Forbes says experience, not ideology, is his case for ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 19pollDistrict poll shows Forbes at 7.6%, fifth among 10 candidates, with 35.7% undecided
A JMC Analytics and Polling survey of 790 likely district voters (Sept. 19–21), funded by the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Foundation and used for WBRZ debate criteria, placed Forbes at 7.6%, fifth among 10 candidates. Margin of error ±3.5 points at 95% confidence.
WATCH LIVE AT 7PM: WBRZ hosts 6th District Congressional Debate tonight · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16newsForbes opposes ACA subsidy cuts and Medicaid work requirements at healthcare forum
In a discussion of healthcare affordability, Forbes said he would reverse cuts to the Affordable Care Act subsidies and opposed new Medicaid work requirements, arguing they would reduce coverage and could cause rural hospital closures.
Ideas on healthcare affordability differ among 6th District candidates · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 6filingPat Forbes qualifies for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District ballot as a Democrat
Forbes qualified for the race on August 6, according to Secretary of State records cited by The Bayou Progressive. He is listed on the state's November ballot as a Democrat running for the 6th District seat.
Pat Forbes says experience, not ideology, is his case for ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Mitch Landrieu (former New Orleans Mayor) officialListed as an endorser on Forbes's campaign website; no specific date given in reviewed sources. patforbes.com
- Mary Landrieu (former U.S. Senator) officialListed as an endorser on Forbes's campaign website; no specific date given in reviewed sources. patforbes.com
- Louisiana Law Enforcement Association organizationReported as a new endorsement in the week of October 8, 2026; exact date not given. bayouprogressive.com
- Marcia Fudge (former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) officialReported as a new endorsement in the week of October 8, 2026; exact date not given. bayouprogressive.com
- John Bel Edwards (former Louisiana Governor) officialEdwards announced his endorsement on X on August 6, 2026; reported the same day by the Shreveport Times. shreveporttimes.com · Aug 6, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
Reporting date not available. ↳ FEC record H6LA06190(opens in a new tab)
Sources 12
- [1] Louisiana's congressional candidates float ideas for affordable gas, groceries • Louisiana Illuminator(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] WBRZ hosts 6th Congressional District candidate event(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [3] WATCH LIVE AT 7PM: WBRZ hosts 6th District Congressional Debate tonight(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [4] 4 candidates for Baton Rouge congressional seat offer ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [5] 6 takeaways from Louisiana's 6th District candidates forum(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [6] Forbes Campaign Reports Raising More Than $100,000 in First 8 Weeks(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [7] Pat Forbes says experience, not ideology, is his case for ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [8] Ideas on healthcare affordability differ among 6th District candidates(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [9] Ideas on healthcare affordability differ among 6th District candidates • Louisiana Illuminator(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [10] Democrats Pat Forbes and Rubia Garcia seek Louisiana sixth ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 7, 2026
- [11] Pat Forbes for U.S. Congress | Louisiana | Official Campaign Site(opens in a new tab) Aug 7, 2026
- [12] Former Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards weighs in on congressional race(opens in a new tab) Aug 6, 2026