Dan McKay

Dan McKay served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973. He graduated from Mangham High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana, Monroe. His career experience includes working as a lawyer.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Monroe, raised in Mangham, Richland Parish, LA, and am a graduate of the LSU Law Center (JD, Law). I am a U. S. Army veteran with two years overseas and was later commanding officer of my Army Reserve unit in Baton Rouge during law school. Between active Army and law practice I worked in broadcasting, construction, and in the offshore oilfield. I have maintained a general "country" law practice in Avoyelles Parish for over 45 years. During that time I was a public defender for 15 yrs. and an assistant DA for 11+ yrs. I have been honored to be city attorney for Bunkie a total of 12 yrs. and also for Hessmer 24 yrs. and Evergreen 18 yrs. I have been a member of the Bunkie Rotary Club over 40 yrs., serving as president twice. I have been married to Adrienne Lee McKay, of Bunkie, for 48 yrs. We have three children and six grandchildren. My wife and I are members of Emmanuel Baptist Church (a non-Southern Baptist church) in Alexandria, La. since 2015. My country law practice has given me a strong background in the challenges faced by average citizens and small businesses. I have lived in the 5th Congressional District for practically all of my life. I know this district and its citizens. We face population loss, poverty and blight. Chemical plants and data centers are both a blessing and a curse, seemingly our only source of new jobs. We have beautiful farmland, forests, lakes, rivers and bayous and enjoy living in the sportsman's paradise.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The principles of democracy are under attack. These principles must be followed for our nation to remain free. They include separation of church and state. A political party aligns with the majority religion to gain moral superiority, the idea God favors them. Majority faith becomes majority party. The opposing party is framed as competing with the nation’s sacred identity, becoming suspect, their loyalty questioned, producing a locked-in majority and weakened minority. A vigorous two-party system is essential. The push and pull keeps us in middle ground. Our Constitution has strong protections against majoritarianism. Free and fair elections are essential. The rule of law, a free press and free speech must be protected.Healthcare should be viewed as a human right, particularly where it is readily available, but not where it is overly-controlled by a profit motive. About 20 rural hospitals in the 5th District are under threat of closing as a result of Medicaid cuts included in the so-called big beautiful bill going into effect at the end of 2026. This is a matter of urgent concern. Social Security and Medicare continue to be under attack, largely based on the profit motive of making them the tools of private business. Women's healthcare should be a matter of decision-making between a woman and her medical professionals. Housing is available here to those who cannot find it elsewhere. Abundant natural resources in LA-05 can and must be protected.Population loss in rural areas, including ours, is of major concern. Our cities and even rural areas are suffering from blight and have water systems that are threatened by loss of revenue, encroachment on resources by data centers and other high-utility-consumption businesses that have found our once-abundant natural spaces and rich farmland are attractive locations for their huge plants which promise a short-term construction boom followed by few jobs or local business activity long-term. We are threatened by Supreme Court precedent allowing private property to be taken not for a governmental purpose but for private business. Our people are starved financially and paid sparsely while repeated tax cuts favor only the most wealthy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am concerned with extreme government and business overreach in compiling extensive dossiers on every American through mis-use of Social Security databases and other sources such as medical records, property and financial transactions and every source imaginable. Privacy must given priority. I support our international alliances including NATO which continues to be weakened and failing due to efforts to ally with authoritarian governments instead. Our immigration laws must be reformed. We should return to an immigration & naturalization "service" and away from ICE thugs ruling our streets and neighborhoods. Our policy of close ties to Israel should be changed to eliminate fighting their wars for them.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I believe the four presidents who are on Mount Rushmore are in fact our greatest. If I had to pick one it would be Thomas Jefferson who had a vision for our country that extended from sea to shining sea. I really like his comment that, if he were to choose between government without newspapers or newspapers without government, he would choose the latter.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, attention to detail, and informed consideration of both the short and long-term implications of legislation being considered.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Listen to constituents and experts, seek out the wants and needs of every individual and of local, state and national officials who seek to do good for our society. Constituent services are the number one responsibility of a member of Congress.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I did my job, I served the people; I did it without regard to my personal choices or my wealth, and did it with enthusiasm and optimism. I loved my country and my countrymen and set an example led by faith.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Church janitor. I had the job, part-time, from 10th grade until early in my freshman year of college.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have medical problems that are in some ways disabling, but I have endeavored to keep them personal to me. I work with my medical advisors and my wife. I carry on with determination. Everyone who has worked with me knows, as I say, I'm always on go.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It is (small "d") democratic because of its size, 435 members, and each has to face reelection every two years. It is very diverse, reflecting the nature of our country. Regardless of its failures, it works and has done so for 250 years. Most of the members are unknown to the nation at large, but known by their constituencies.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Our greatest challenge is to remain the world's leading democracy, to maintain our alliances, to reach out to emerging nations and help them; to restore USAID; to avoid creating and fostering an oligarchy. We must avoid having our governing structure dominated by "single issue" politics. We will again be faced with efforts to break our union of states and even states themselves. These will be accompanied by similar fractions in countries including Canada. I will work to preserve our union and strong ties with our neighbors.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy.