M.V. Mendoza

Democratic Party

Candidate, U.S. Senate Louisiana

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Saint Leo University, 1989

Graduate

LaSalle University, 1998

Ph.D

LaSalle University, 1998

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Years of service

1978 - 1998

Personal

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Organic farmer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

M.V. Mendoza (Democratic Party) (also known as Vinny) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Louisiana. He is on the ballot in the primary on November 8, 2022.

## Contents

* 1 Biography
* 2 Elections
* 2.1 2022
* 2.2 2021
* 2.3 2020
* 2.4 2019
* 2.5 2016
* 2.6 2014
* 2.7 2012
* 3 Campaign themes
* 3.1 2022
* 3.1.1 Campaign website
* 3.2 2021
* 3.2.1 Campaign website
* 3.3 2020
* 3.4 2019
* 3.5 2012
* 4 Campaign donors
* 4.1 2012
* 5 Personal
* 6 See also
* 7 External links
* 8 Footnotes

## Biography[edit]

M.V. "Vinny" Mendoza was born in Guatemala. Mendoza served in the U.S. Air Force from 1978 to 1998. He earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Leo University in 1989, and a master's degree and Ph.D. from LaSalle University in 1998. Mendoza began working as a USDA certified organic farmer in 2008. His professional experience includes working with the Louisiana State University Food Science Department regarding antiviral edible plants. He was also an adjunct professor at Central Texas University's Far East Campus in Tokyo, Japan, where he implemented the hotel and restaurant management program.[1]

## Elections[edit]

### 2022[edit]

See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2022

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

General election

The primary will occur on November 8, 2022. The general election will occur on December 10, 2022. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Nonpartisan primary election

##### Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate Louisiana

The following candidates are running in the primary for U.S. Senate Louisiana on November 8, 2022.

Candidate

|

| John Neely Kennedy (R)

| Beryl Billiot (Independent)

| Gary Chambers (D)

| Devin Lance Graham (R)

| Xan John (Independent)

| W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson (Independent)

| Bradley McMorris (Independent)

| M.V. Mendoza (D)

| Luke Mixon (D)

| Salvador Rodriguez (D)

| Aaron Sigler (L)

| Syrita Steib (D)

| Thomas Wenn (Independent)

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Albert Kyder (R)

### 2021[edit]

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District special election, 2021

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

##### Special nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5

The following candidates ran in the special primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5 on March 20, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Julia Letlow (R)  |

64.9

| 67,203

| Candy Christophe (D)  |

27.3

| 28,255

| Chad Conerly (R) |

5.3

| 5,497

| Robert Lansden (R) |

0.9

| 929

| Allen Guillory Sr. (R)  |

0.4

| 464

| Jim Davis (Independent)  |

0.4

| 402

| Sancha Smith (R)  |

0.3

| 334

| M.V. Mendoza (Independent)  |

0.2

| 236

| Jaycee Magnuson (R) |

0.1

| 131

| Richard Pannell (R)  |

0.1

| 67

| Horace Melton (R)  |

0.1

| 62

| Errol Victor (R)  |

0.0

| 36

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 103,616

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Jessica Honsinger Hollister (D)

### 2020[edit]

See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2020

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

##### Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate Louisiana

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. Senate Louisiana on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Bill Cassidy (R)  |

59.3

| 1,228,908

| Adrian Perkins (D)  |

19.0

| 394,049

| Derrick Edwards (D) |

11.1

| 229,814

| Antoine Pierce (D) |

2.7

| 55,710

| Dustin Murphy (R) |

1.9

| 38,383

| David Drew Knight (D)  |

1.8

| 36,962

| Beryl Billiot (Independent)  |

0.8

| 17,362

| John Paul Bourgeois (Independent) |

0.8

| 16,518

| Peter Wenstrup (D) |

0.7

| 14,454

| Aaron Sigler (L) |

0.5

| 11,321

| M.V. Mendoza (Independent) |

0.4

| 7,811

| Melinda Mary Price (Independent)  |

0.4

| 7,680

| Jamar Myers-Montgomery (Independent) |

0.3

| 5,804

| Reno Jean Daret III (Independent)  |

0.2

| 3,954

| Xan John (Independent) |

0.1

| 2,813

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 2,071,543

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Greg Fitch (Independent)
* Dartanyon Williams (D)

### 2019[edit]

See also: Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2019

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

General election

##### General election for Governor of Louisiana

Incumbent John Bel Edwards defeated Eddie Rispone in the general election for Governor of Louisiana on November 16, 2019.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| John Bel Edwards (D)  |

51.3

| 774,498

| Eddie Rispone (R)  |

48.7

| 734,286

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 1,508,784
(100.00% precincts reporting)

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

##### Nonpartisan primary for Governor of Louisiana

The following candidates ran in the primary for Governor of Louisiana on October 12, 2019.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| John Bel Edwards (D)  |

46.6

| 625,970
✔ |

| Eddie Rispone (R)  |

27.4

| 368,319

| Ralph Abraham (R)  |

23.6

| 317,149

| Oscar Dantzler (D)  |

0.8

| 10,993

| Patrick Landry (R)  |

0.8

| 10,966

| Gary Landrieu (Independent) |

0.8

| 10,084

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 1,343,481

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Manuel Leach (R)
* Patrick Doguet (R)
* M.V. Mendoza (D)

Mendoza was disqualified from the 2019 gubernatorial race after a judge ruled that he did not comply with a Louisiana law that required him to have filed state and federal taxes within each of the past five years.[2]

### 2016[edit]

See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated Louisiana's U.S. Senate race as safely Republican. The seat was open following incumbent David Vitter's decision to retire. A total of 24 candidates filed to run and competed in the primary election on November 8, 2016. John Kennedy (R) and Foster Campbell (D) took the top two spots in the election, advancing to the general election on December 10, 2016. Kennedy subsequently defeated Campbell in the general election.[3]

U.S. Senate, Louisiana General Election, 2016

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | John Kennedy | 60.7% | 536,191
| Democratic  |  Foster Campbell  | 39.3% | 347,816
Total Votes | 884,007
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State
U.S. Senate, Louisiana Primary Election, 2016

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | John Kennedy | 25% | 482,591
| Democratic  | Foster Campbell | 17.5% | 337,833
| Republican  |  Charles Boustany  | 15.4% | 298,008
| Democratic  |  Caroline Fayard  | 12.5% | 240,917
| Republican  |  John Fleming  | 10.6% | 204,026
| Republican  |  Rob Maness  | 4.7% | 90,856
| Republican  |  David Duke  | 3% | 58,606
| Democratic  |  Derrick Edwards  | 2.7% | 51,774
| Democratic  |  Gary Landrieu  | 2.4% | 45,587
| Republican  |  Donald Crawford  | 1.3% | 25,523
| Republican  |  Joseph Cao  | 1.1% | 21,019
| Independent  |  Beryl Billiot  | 1% | 19,352
| Libertarian  |  Thomas Clements  | 0.6% | 11,370
| Independent  |  Troy Hebert  | 0.5% | 9,503
| Democratic  |  Josh Pellerin  | 0.4% | 7,395
| Democratic  |  Peter Williams  | 0.4% | 6,855
| Democratic  |  Vinny Mendoza  | 0.3% | 4,927
| Independent  |  Kaitlin Marone  | 0.2% | 4,108
| Libertarian  |  Le Roy Gillam  | 0.2% | 4,067
| Republican  |  Charles Marsala  | 0.2% | 3,684
| Independent  |  Arden Wells  | 0.1% | 1,483
| Independent  |  Bob Lang  | 0.1% | 1,424
| Independent  |  Gregory Taylor  | 0.1% | 1,151
Total Votes | 1,932,059
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State

### 2014[edit]

See also: Louisiana's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

Mendoza ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. House to represent Louisiana's 1st District.[4] Mendoza ran as a Democratic candidate in the election on November 4, 2014.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 1 Primary Election, 2014

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Steve Scalise Incumbent | 77.56% | 189,250
| Democratic  |  Lee Dugas  | 8.72% | 21,286
| Democratic  |  Vinny Mendoza  | 10.15% | 24,761
| Libertarian  |  Jeff Sanford  | 3.57% | 8,707
Total Votes | 244,004
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State

### 2012[edit]

See also: Louisiana's 1st Congressional District elections, 2012

Mendoza ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Louisiana's 1st District. Mendoza was defeated by incumbent Steve Scalise (R) in the November 6 blanket primary.[5]

U.S. House, Louisiana District 1 Primary Election, 2012

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Steve Scalise Incumbent | 66.6% | 193,496
| Democratic  |  Vinny Mendoza  | 21.2% | 61,703
| Republican  |  Gary King  | 8.6% | 24,844
| Independent  |  David Turknett  | 2.1% | 6,079
| Independent  |  Arden Wells  | 1.5% | 4,288
Total Votes | 290,410
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

## Campaign themes[edit]

### 2022[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

M.V. Mendoza has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey. If you are M.V. Mendoza, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

* 694 candidates completed the survey in 2021. This number represented 13.5% of all 5,138 candidates Ballotpedia covered in 2021. Out of the 694 candidates who completed Ballotpedia's candidate survey, 147 won their election. Candidates from 36 states completed the survey. Noteworthy respondents included Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Read the 2021 report for more information about that year's respondents.

* 4,745 candidates completed the survey in 2020. This number represented 16.4% of all 29,002 candidates Ballotpedia covered in 2020. Out of the 4,745 respondents, 743 won their election. Candidates from all 50 states completed the survey. Noteworthy respondents included U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, U.S. Representative Kat Cammack, and U.S. presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen. Read the 2020 report for more information about that year's respondents.

You can ask M.V. Mendoza to fill out this survey by using the button below.

#### Campaign website[edit]

Mendoza's campaign website stated the following:

“  |

\+ Veteran

\+ Pro-Life

\+ Women's Rights

\+ Pro-guns--protect 2nd Amendment

\+ Small Business

\+ Farmers

\+ Oil & Gas

\+ Solar, wind , hydrothermal and hydroelectric energy

\+ Cleaner air & water

\+ First responders and educators pay raises

\+ Keep Social Security

\+ Low price prescription drugs for senior citizens

\+ Lower Medicare age to 60

\+ Lower Social Security benefits age to 60

\+ $15 Minimum Wage

\+ Medicinal & Recreational Cannabis

Dr. MV "Vinny" Mendoza, is an inspiring Louisiana disabled veteran business owner with more than 20 years experience at the federal level. Former adjunct professor of Business Administration with Central Texas College, Far East Campus in Tokyo, Japan (4-years). He leads by example as an influencer as well as a USDA certified organic farmer.

Dr. Mendoza knows that 6 out of 10 people in Louisiana live in poverty and that 8-10 children go to school hungry without breakfast--no child can concentrate in school work with an empty stomach.

Dr. Mendoza is well aware that the high cost of gasoline is driving up the cost of food as well as rent and it is becoming a burden to all low income and middle class families in Louisiana.

Dr. Mendoza, after teaching labor law, macro and micro economics as well Total Quality Management for several years he knows how to fight inflation and reduce the U.S. deficit while increasing the GDP which has reached the lowest level in 100 years--he learned the code of business ethics and economic development from the Japanese during his 9-year tenure in Japan.

As your next US Senator from Louisiana, Dr. Vinny Mendoza will go to Washington DC to legislate as a Common Sense American who leaves politics aside and concentrates on your specific needs. He will concentrate on your segment of the two part Technical Recession.

a. High Tear, For corporations and wealthy people, there is a healthy job growth with low unemployment rates.

b. Low Tear, For low income and middle class, you are feeling the pain when pumping gas, buying groceries or construction materials and/or when paying your utility bills, not to mention flood and home insurance prices that are increasing.

As your next US Senator, I will fight for the Low Tear so that you can have a better paying job that enables you to put food on the table at home, afford your utility bills, have access to universal healthcare, breathe clean air and drink uncontaminated water--you must be happy where you live, work and play anywhere within Louisiana.

Dr. Vinny is stepping up with a 5-Point Action Pledge to solve most of the current technical recession low tear problems and a simple plan to prevent intense misery and despair with another Great Depression like the one we had from 1929-1933.

Dr. MV "Vinny" Mendoza's 5-Point Action Pledge:

1\. Regulate the Big Oil Companies that caused the current inflation spike and have driven our nation into technical recession.

a. The US Big Oil companies took advantage of the war in Ukrane and global dependance of oil and they decided to increase the price of gasoline to the highest levels over a 90-day period thus obtaining the highest profits ever in one three month period.

b. On top of gasoline price gauging, Big Oil companies stopped oil production within the United States which contributed to the technical inflation that drove the price of transportation, food and utilities which will never come back down.

c. I will sponsor legislation that regulates the price of gasoline in the United States and take that power away from Big Oil companies.

d. Additionally, I will Introduce legislation that forces local oil production to meet the American people oil demand. Oil corporations have neglected to increase oil production in order to make more profits and made you personal budget suffer in the process.

e. Sponsor legislation to force oil corporations to invest 50% of their profits in Louisiana. 25% of the profits on renewable energy to provide each home with solar panel generator when electrical power goes out and 25% of their profits to be invested in a light rail transit that unites all major cities in Louisiana and creates over 50,000 permanent new jobs.

f. On my first day at work, I will order an Congressional Inquire to investigate Entergy Louisiana and determine the extent of their abuse of power to charge their customers more than what they are supposed to be paying, particularly for fees to pay for damages from previous storms after they received bail out funding from the Federal and State governments.

2\. Sponsor the American Agrarian Reform Act

a. In 1935, the US had about 6.8 million farms to provide food for 127 million Americans.

b. In 2022, we have less than 2 million farms to provide food for 320 million Americans. Almost 75% less farms to provide for almost 250% more people

c. Additionally, the USDA pays billions of dollars in subsidies to Big Farmers not to produce.

d. If the US government can bail out the auto industry (Bush $17.4B), cripple airline industry (Trump $25B), Bank Industry ( $700B), Savings & Loans ($407B, 1989), Big Farmer (Trump $16B), America Competes Act, microchip production (Biden $250B), Entergy Louisiana (Bush, Katrina $200M). Why are these bailouts very important to YOU? because you are the one paying for all those funds and none of those industries repay any of the bailouts that they receive.

e. For the above reasons, I will sponsor the American Agrarian Reform Act that increases 75% of the US Farms to the original 1935 levels, and create more than 25 million new and permanent jobs.

f. The current lowest GDP of 1.2 can grow an average of 0.05 percent per year for the the next ten years with an investment of $350B for small farmers in every town and parish/county within the United States thus bringing down the cost of food and end hunger within the United States.

3\. Fight for the Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act

4\. Medicare for ALL.

a. Provide healthcare to all Americans.

b. Reduce the cost of all prescription drugs.

5\. End the War on Women's Rights by sponsoring "The Lorena Bobbitt Peewee AXE Act."

It is time for women to rise up and fight back!

1\. Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus became pregnant miraculously by God, and she became the most prominent female figure in Western Culture.

2\. All other women of the past, present or future are NO Virgin Mary and they can only get impregnated by man and some by artificial insemination. If a woman gets pregnant, she is 50% at cause and effect and a man is the other 50% of cause and effect. Therefore if a woman gets pregnant the man that impregnated her should have 50% of the burden that she has.

3\. In the other hand we have Mrs. Lorena Bobbitt, who in 1993 became the most famous woman in the world upon cutting off her husband's penis after years of physical and mental abuse.

4\. I know that most women are abused physically and mentally by their husbands and then they are abused by their own children because they have an abusive father as a role model.

5\. For the above reasons, I plan to sponsor the legislation for "The PeeWee Axe Act." Which will consist of the following:

a. At all cases of RAPE whether the rape is conducted by your husband or by a stranger, their penis will be cut off as punishment.

b. For all fathers that refuse to take responsibility for their children and do not pay child support and have two or more children, they will be ordered a vasectomy so that they do not continue impregnating women.

c. If men have a moment of fun and get women pregnant--they can also have a responsibility to raise their children or go to jail if they support an abortion where it is against the law.

d. There will be no statute of limitations with these offenses.

DR. MENDOZA BELIEVES IN TERM LIMITS AND PLEDGES TO SERVE ONLY ONE TERM AS A US SENATOR AND HE WILL NOT ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ENTERGY OR BIG OIL COMPANIES.[6]

| ”

|
|

—M.V. Mendoza's campaign website (2022)[7]

### 2021[edit]

M.V. Mendoza did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

#### Campaign website[edit]

Mendoza’s campaign website stated the following:

“  |

Make the 5th CD work for you again!

* Veteran
* Pro-Life
* Pro-guns--protect 2nd Amendment
* Supports Small Business
* Supports Farmers
* Supports Oil & Gas
* Cleaner air & water
* Supports $10,000 first responders and educators pay raises
* Keep Social Security
* Low price prescription drugs for senior citizens
* Lower Medicare age to 60
* Lower Social Security benefits age to 60
* Stimulus extended unemployment benefits
* Monthly stimulus paychecks
* $15 Minimum Wage
* $15-$60 per hour in the smart organic farms, hydroelectric, wind turbines and solar energy area. A goal of creating 25,000 permanent new jobs within the 5th CD!
* Supports Medicinal & Recreational Cannabis

Dr. MV "Vinny" Mendoza's 5-Point Action Pledge:

* 1\. Tackle National Food Security problem and Environmental Crisis at the 5th Congressional District Level. I will fight for Agricultural loans and grants at the federal level. As an Independent U.S. Representative, within my first week after being sworn in, I will contact President Biden's Senior Advisor and coordinate with him to secure funding for the following:

a. Obtain over 50 million dollars worth of unused military War Readiness Material kept at stealth locations and use it to weatherize all public schools, recreation centers and shelters within the 5th CD. These resources are kept at stealth locations but Dr. Vinny Mendoza, knows how to demilitarize them and make them available to law enforcement and to local city and parish municipalities. He personally knows the Senior Advisor to President Biden who can request the approval for Department of Defense demilitarization for WRM resources to weatherize the 5th Congressional District.

b. Build a hydroelectric power plant in the Mississippi River near St. Francisville, to produce over 3500 Mega Watts of Clean Energy.

c. Build 2500 hundred Wind Turbines within the Mississippi River high velocity wind ares which will produce over 2500 Mega Watts of Clean Energy.

d. Building 10,000 new Smart Organic Farms of America within the 5th Congressional District.

CREATE OVER 25,000 CLEAN ENERGY PERMANENT NEW JOBS THAT PAY $15-$60 PER HOUR.

e. Support all veterans

* (1) Make VA hospital available to dependent spouses and children

* (2) Provide optical and dental care to Disabled Veterans with 30% disability or above.

* (3) Enact legislation that requires a copy of digital military dental and medical records by provided to veterans and the VA upon leaving service.

* (4) Reduce claims processing times to no more than 6 months.

The above projects will provide over $50 Billion dollars in unused military resources to weatherize public schools, recreation centers and shelters at no cost to the state or local parishes; it will also create over 25,000 permanent new jobs, produce clean energy for over 5 million homes and businesses, reduce electric bills by 40%, over $10 billion in revenue annually to the state, reduce hunger, poverty and unemployment thus turning around the poorest district in Louisiana and the nation to the richest district within the United States.

* 2\. Sponsor the America for ALL Tax Reform

a. Reduce income tax for 99% of Americans

b. Increase income tax for top 1%

c. Political contributions shall pay 50% tax

d. 10% tax for non-profits

e. And a $2800 political contribution limit for corporations and PACs same as people.

TAKE DARK MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!

* 3\. Lead the 10% re-investment of Government subsidies and Defense War Profiting funding and invest in Green New Deal Agrarian Reform Plan to create 100,000 new jobs in Louisiana. Create 10,000 SMART farms within the 5th CD and 50,000 within the state and provide local national food security while boosting the Louisiana and U.S. economy. (See SMART FARM MODEL)

* 4\. Medicare for ALL.

a. Provide you with covid-19 test when you need it or want it;

b. Provide you covid-19 vaccine free of charge;

c. Covid-19, medical treatment at no cost to you.

d. Medicare and Medicaid available at age 60.

e. How will medicare for all be paid?

* (1) By implementing the America for ALL Tax Reform
* (2) and reinvesting 10% of government subsidies and defense war profiting funding.
* (3) Placing a lien on $1 Trillion debt to China and use those funds to pay for China's Covid-19 negligence.

* 5\. Term Limits. Dr. Vinny Mendoza's pledges to serve a maximum of three terms as U.S. Representative for the 5th CD. He will also retain the current 5th CD staff.

[6]

| ”

|
|

—M.V. Mendoza’s campaign website (2021)[8]

### 2020[edit]

M.V. Mendoza completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mendoza's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a U.S. Air Force retired disabled veteran and a USDA certified organic farmer since April 2008, dedicated to doing research with antiviral medicinal plants who is concerned about Senator Bill Cassidy's participation in enabling the White House Covid-19 negligent response with his silence. Even during the pandemic, Senator Cassidy has tried to take away the Affordable Care Act (ACA) from more than 500,000 Louisiana citizens whose lives depend on ACA.

As a former assistant to the Inspector General of the Air Force and Chief of Services, I know about Air Force requirements for operations and mission as well as budget requirements and I can identify wasteful funding from the Department of Defense that can be trimmed by 10% and used for the Green New Deal Agrarian Reform to create 50 million new jobs and increase U.S. Ag GDP from 1% to 20% thus making America prosperous and have the necessary funding to pay for Medicare for ALL and free college education with social or military service commitment.

Unfortunately, our nation is in chaos as we enter the darkest fall season in American history, all of us are feeling anxious, sad, upset, angry, uncertain, with fear and scared to death. We are also dealing with the #hatevirus at all levels of federal, state and local governments. However, in order to fix the #hatevirus in government we must also cleanse ourselves from it also. However, we must begin by firing the entire Louisiana Delegation swamp in Washington D.C.,

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?

* I will sponsor the Reinvest in America Act, where we reinvest 10% of annual defense budget and invest in the Green New Deal Agrarian Reform thus creating of 25 million new smart farms, 10 million clean energy new jobs and 15 million construction jobs; per Dr. Mike Strain on 17 June 2019, at 7:00 p.m., in Kenner, LA "Louisiana, has a $10 Billion annual budget and only $1 Million is invested in minority farms." In the 1920s the GDP in the U.S. was 80% and now it is 1% with less than 2 million farmers struggling without labor. The Green New Deal is the answer.
* I will sponsor the Fair Income Tax Reform Act, to benefit all Americans. Reduce income tax to 99% of taxpayers and increase income tax for the top 1%. Impose 50% tax on all political contributions-Corporations and PACs' limit of $2,800; Impose 30% tax on all corporations; 10% tax for all non-profit organizations.
* I will sponsor the Fair Native American Immigration Act. Here in the United States at the beginning of 2020, there was a pre-existing major agricultural problem where the Agriculture GDP is 1% or $132.8 billion and going down with a total of 2 million farmers that depend on temporary migrant labor. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it worst and the national food security concerns have increased tenfold. Therefore, dependence of food imports will increase as well as the price so it is in our own best interest to consider the following. a. Increase H-2A temporary experienced farm labor levels by 50%. b. Eliminate H-2B temporary non-agricultural labor or services. Pay local labor $15/hour.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1\. Preserving Life. Ensuring that each and every American receives a Covid-19 test when they need it or want it with same day test results and access to a vaccine when one becomes available. 2\. Protecting Social Security for Senior Citizens 3\. Medicare for ALL Americans. Enforce that one one is turned away from any hospital to die at home with Covid-19 and infect family members and friends as it is happening in Louisiana. 4\. Criminal Justice Reform.

a. End Pig Laws.
b. Reform qualified immunity
c. Ban use of excess force (e.g., chokeholds, shoot to kill)
d. Establish a nationwide database of law enforcement officers found to have used excessive force

5\. Equal pay and equal treatment regardless of sex, skin color, religion, age and/or sexual orientation. Minimum wage of $15/hour.

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

Roy Benavides "The Last Medal of Honor" in Vietnam.

Roy was my friend and I learned from him that even though he was critically wounded he charged forward to save the lives of 9 U.S. soldiers from a helicopter that went down but in the process he even saved the lives of 5 members of the Viet Cong that were critically ill-Roy left no one behind.

Unfortunately, the GOP sees Democrats as Viet Cong enemies and I want to follow Roy Benavides example of not leaving anyone behind and treat GOP and Democrats as Americans and serve all the same with dignity, respect, honor and country before self!

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

For each Presidential and U.S. Senate/Congressional candidate, make a Pro/Con matrix spreadsheet on all issues that are important to you and assign 1+ for pro and -1 for Con.

At the end tally each side and deduct the cons from the pros and you will have a number for each candidate, the candidate that has the higher number is the one that you should vote for and you should share your Pro/Con Matrix with family and friends and or social media.

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

Integrity, respect and moral values.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

High moral and family values, Integrity, respect, leadership, duty, honor, country before self, hope, faith and love of God!

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

Serve all Americans and not only the political party in power. For this reason, I believe that I can be a greater asset to Louisiana and the nation as an independent that can balance the power in the U.S. Senate when there will not be any political party with 51% majority.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As the creator of the Green New Deal's Agrarian Reform that created 50 million new jobs and saved the U.S. economy and paid for Medicare for ALL and free education.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

11/8/1978, the day that i joined the U.S. Air Force at age 19. I was thrilled to see the world and to get an education and I was blessed to see places that 99.9% of the world population has never seen like northernmost military station in the world Thule Air Base an early warning ballistic missile site, where I was the Chief of Services, Morale and Recreation.

My primary duty at Thule Air Base was to reduce the highest suicide rate at one particular Air Force Base within the Department of Defense. I was in charge of a staff of more than 400 people, $20 Million operations budget and more than 2 billion in real properties at main base and two satellite stations.

There were 4 low ranking individuals per room with two bunkbeds and two higher ranking per room; no tvs or phones in bedrooms only one at the dayroom in each floor. Individuals had one 5-minute morale call per week.

SOLUTIONS:

1\. Low ranking individuals per room with TV and phone. 2\. One higher ranking individual per room with TV and phone. 3\. Increased to 3 morale calls per week @ 15 minutes each. 4\. Installed pac man and space invader machines at all day rooms. 5\. Purchased hot tubs and above ground pools for fitness centers. 6\. Purchased video movies for recreation center at no cost to individuals. 7\. Implemented a 4-day morale trip to McGuire AFB, New Jersey, without charging leave to individuals. Obtained free tickets for NFL and/or NBA games. 8\. Brought the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders entertainment. 9\. Brought live bands for 30-days. 10\. Hosted the Northernmost Winter Olympics between U.S. and Canada.

RESULTS: No one committed suicide during my 12-month tenure at Thule Air Base between 3/92 and 3/93.

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

Temporary Intra-office delivery mailman at the Organization of American States. I had it for 6 months and learned the value of education to climb high, my boss had the same job for 20 years with no education and others 1/2 his age with college education had good positions and made twice as much in pay. My boss told me every day that he wished that he had gone to school and recommended me to go to school to have a better future-i listened to him.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Greatest Secret in the World by Og Mandino.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

At 61 years of age, I prefer to use my time to ensure that my children and grandchildren are safe and will be safe in the future.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Amazing grace.

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

Dealing with the #hatevirus while in the military and moving to Louisiana where it was more accentuated. I recall the first day that I put a foot in New Orleans while I was being transferred from Yokota Air Base, Japan to Eglin AFB, Florida, I missed my flight from New Orleans to Fort Walton Beach, so I had to take the bus. While waiting for my bus, I was in sitting down on top of my duffle bag in front of the bus station at Loyola Avenue and a caucasian individual in civilian clothes approached me and asked me in broken Spanish for my green card and I told him that I did not have one (I was a U.S. citizen), the individual got angry and said that I was illegal and he tried to handcuff me and I did not know if he was a police detective or what? I was trying to defend myself and the individual put his knee on my neck and I was pleading with him "I cannot breathe" like George Floyd. The individual called for backup and about 3 police officers came and the individual ended up being an immigration officer kept on saying that I was illegal and that I was resisting arrest. The NOPD searched my wallet and pulled my military ID card and they also found my U.S. passport in my briefcase. I was released and thought that I would never come back to LA.

In April 1997, upon leaving Japan for the second time, I was relocated to Barksdale AFB, LA and stayed here.

I lost my brother Roland (17) who was killed by police; my younger sister Roxane (19) was raped and murdered. My 96-year old mother has experienced her home to be burned by arson 3 times in her lifetime. First time on Christmas eve in 1925, while her father was preaching someone burn her house and at age 2-she can still remember and she also remembers that 10 years later the person that burned her house asked for forgiveness at church because he had gotten paid $2 to burn the preachers home.

In 1/5/2016, my ranch in Ponchatoula was burned to the ground and the sheriffs department refused to investigate.

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

Healthcare and Economy. We don't need to go to far out into the next decade, our nation is in chaos right now, and even 10 weeks out we have the same challenges of healthcare and economy with the Covid-19 pandemic about to hit the second wave where another 300,000 Americans may die in addition to the 200,000 that already died.

We must be concerned with the #hatevirus that our own president is instigating with the support of Louisiana's Congressional delegation.

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

In 2020 the U.S. Senate is a cut throat institution that is selfish and caters to large corporations because all politicians depend on political contributions. For this reason, I believe hat it is of utmost importance to limit all corporate and political action committee (PAC) political contributions to $2800 same as individuals. Additionally, we must implement the taxation of 50% to all political contributions.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that it would be more beneficial for senators to have high moral values, dignity, respect and leadership experience. Previous experience in government is beneficial with the exception of political experience. I have 20-years experience at the Federal government level.

What do you think of the filibuster?

I see filibuster as obstruction of justice. I do not see a need to prevent a a legislation bill from being brought to a vote by means of obstruction.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

Regardless of the position, the individual most posses at least 4-year college degree within the field of expertise where he/she is being appointed and 5-10 years experience, of good character and a person who will serve all Americans and not only the political party in power.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?

It is the job of a U.S. Senator to build relationships and maintain cohesive lines of communication with the other 99 senators.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Upon being elected, I will respectfully ask to retain former incumbent's committees of

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Subcommittee on Energy (chairman) . I want to further expand solar, wind and geothermal energy.

Committee on Finance. Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness. I have many initiatives in these areas.

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. I want to ensure that we implement Medicare for ALL, free college educations, $15 minimum wage.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. As a disabled veteran myself, I want ensure that all veterans are taken care of as well as their family members.

Joint Economic Committee. Ensuring that we spend Defense funds properly and reinvest funding for unnecessary war building projects will be my top priority,

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Former President of the United States: John F. Kennedy.

I love his quote: "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future".

We now have the chance to change the present state of affairs in the White House and U.S. Congress on November 3, and secure a better future for our families, friends, local community and our great nation.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

### 2019[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

has not yet completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia is seeking 100 percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots.

### 2012[edit]

The following are several themes highlighted on Mendoza's campaign website.[9]

* Bring Jobs to Louisiana'

Excerpt: "It is time to encourage more companies (foreign as well as domestic) to make Louisiana their home. Encouraging foreign and domestic companies to bring jobs to Louisiana will be my #1 priority. These jobs can be the source of innovation for clean energy, for the new generation of “green” manufacturing jobs, and for ecosystem restoration."[9]

* STOP CUTS TO MEDICARE AND MEDICAID—NO VOUCHERS

Excerpt: "I oppose the Paul Ryan budget, which turns Medicare into a voucher program providing less support, severely cuts Medicaid, cuts which would leave senior citizens without medical assistance."[9]

* The WAR on Drugs should be fought at home

Excerpt: Local police departments need to receive more funding."[9]

* Smaller Government

Excerpt: "I believe that we can do better with a smaller government which can be reduced by phasing out vacancies as civil service employees retire."[9]

* 2nd Amendment

Excerpt: "I propose to adopt criminal deterrence policies of Japan, where anyone possessing a weapon without a proper license to bear arms automatically receives 1-2 year jail sentence in Japan is 15-20 years and for those that commit crimes, their sentence should be harsh (25-20 years)."[9]

## Campaign donors[edit]

### 2012[edit]

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2012 elections season. There are no reports available for this candidate.[10]

## Personal[edit]

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Mendoza has a wife, Estela, and 3 Children.[11]

## See also[edit]

2022 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

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Newsletters

The Heart of the Primaries The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic

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## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 2, 2020
2. ↑ AP News, "3 candidates for Louisiana governor disqualified from race," August 26, 2019
3. ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Candidate Inquiry," accessed July 25, 2016
4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `run`
5. ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Candidate List," accessed October 22,2012
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
7. ↑ Dr. MV "Vinny" Mendoza for US Senate, # 8, “Home,” accessed August 8, 2022
8. ↑ M.V. Mendoza’s campaign website, “Home,” accessed March 17, 2021
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Mendoza's Official Campaign Website "Point by Point"
10. ↑ Open Secrets, "2012 Race: Louisiana District 01" March 2013
11. ↑ Official Campaign Website, Bio

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Louisiana's current delegation to the United States Congress

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Bill Cassidy (R)

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Clay Higgins (R)

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Mike Johnson (R)

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Julia Letlow (R)

District 6

Garret Graves (R)

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