Louisiana state Sen. Elbert Guillory, who recently switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP, has explained the move in a new video.
Guillory, one of two black Louisiana lawmakers to switch allegiance in recent weeks, says the Republican Party would better serve the interests of the black community.
"You see, in recent history, the Democrat Party has created the illusion that their agenda and their policies are what’s best for black people," Guillory said. "Somehow it has been forgotten that the Republican Party was founded in 1854 as an abolitionist movement, with one simple creed: that slavery is a violation of the rights of man."
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In late May, Guillory announced his party switch — one that made him the Pelican State's first black Republican state senator since Reconstruction.
Guillory, who has voted conservative since becoming a legislator in 2006 and helped pass bills for Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, told reporters that his change was motivated by the national Democratic Party's positions on abortion and the Second Amendment.
Less than two weeks later, Central City Councilman Ralph Washington made the same switch from Democrat to Republican. Washington is also black.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.