By JIM BUTLER

It hasn’t taken long for knives out among candidates in the U.S. Senate Republican primary on the ballot in Rapides and every other parish on May 16.

An observer said a long time back there are no true friends in politics, that politicians are all sharks circling and waiting for traces of blood to appear in the water. 

More specifically, Bill Cassidy began bleeding when he voted to convict President Donald Trump of impeachment charges. In the pool are State Treasurer John Fleming, Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Mark Spencer. 

They are vying for the Republican nod to face the Democratic nominee in the November general election. 

Seeking the Democratic spot are Nicho Albares, Gary Crockett and Jamie Davis. 

Two U.S. House primaries are on ballots in different Rapides precincts. 

Congressional District 4 Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is opposed by Joshua Morett and Mike Nichols on the Republican ballot. 

Democrats will pick between Conrad Cable and Matt Gromlich. 

Incumbent 6th District Congressman Cleo Fields is unopposed for the Democrats’ nomination. He’ll be opposed in November by Monique Appeaning, Larry Davis, Chris Johnson or Peter Williams, Republican primary candidates. 

The May voting is but a prelude to a crowded November 3 ballot. 

The House and Senate general elections will be joined then by judicial primaries  – district attorney, district judges, city judges, city marshals, justices of peace and constables. 

Also on the ballot will be School Board posts and  municipal government offices  in Alexandria, Ball, Boyce, Forest Hill, Lecompte, McNary and Woodworth.