Thibodaux High School senior Ralphon Triggs will be running for a position in the Louisiana State Democratic Party.

Triggs ran for Lafourche Parish Council in 2023. Frustrations throughout the community regarding councilmen came to Trigg’s attention, and he was motivated to run. Though he did not win, Triggs said this experience has helped him get his name out there and get to know important people.

“It was a very exciting experience […]. I had total support from my family and friends. They completely backed me. I talked to a lot of people, and I met a lot of people that I probably would not have met before.” 

If elected, he will be able to vote for a new chairman and executive committee to lead the party. He also aspires to inform and energize the public about voting. 

“If we just take that extra step to actually reach out to [citizens] and tell them what is the importance of voting, we wouldn’t be having so many issues that we have right now,” Triggs said.

Sharing his plans for the future, Triggs said, “The legislature is kind of my dream […]. That’s as far as I ever wanted to go: to serve in the legislature and fix Louisiana […] I want to stay here and fix Louisiana and make it better for the family I want to raise in the future.”

Born and raised in Thibodaux, Louisiana, Triggs described himself as a “basic kid.” He loves to read and write and is currently working on a book centering on his faith. Around the age of 14, Triggs began to form an interest in politics, one of the main influences being a class discussion he had in middle school. He says that his religious beliefs especially helped his political passions come to fruition.

“I think [politics] goes hand-in-hand with my faith because of the work that I believe Jesus teaches us to follow and do. It kind of mixes with my passion for politics and helping people.”

To accomplish his dream, one of Triggs’s plans is to attend Fletcher Community College for general studies. He would then go to Nicholls State University to study political science and then transfer to Southern University to finish his degree. He would want to continue working in politics, though he had some interest in attending seminary and continuing to preach at churches.

The statewide Louisiana Democratic Party primary voting will take place on March 23.