Republican · Louisiana's 5th District · 2026
Misti Cordell
Cordell grew up in rural Luna and began her healthcare career selling pharmaceuticals across Arkansas and Louisiana.
Biography
Misti Cordell credits her mother, who began college at 38, with showing her that an education can change a family's life.1 Cordell and her husband, Hardeman, live in Monroe and have two sons.2 Her volunteer work included five years designing and managing St. Jude Dream Home projects, leading construction of four Monroe homes.2
Raised in rural Luna and a graduate of West Ouachita High School, Cordell earned her Louisiana Tech degree in human resource management in 1997.1 She began her healthcare career in pharmaceutical sales and later worked as a hospital physician liaison, accounts manager and physician recruiter.2 She now owns the healthcare consulting firm COR Consulting.1
Cordell joined the Louisiana Board of Regents in January 2024 and became chair that September.2 The board plans, coordinates and budgets for public higher education across the state.3 Her government experience also includes serving on Governor Jeff Landry's Health and Hospitals Transition Team and working in outreach for the attorney general's office.2 She has also served on the Ouachita Parish Library Board.2
For Congress, she opposes forced property acquisition for carbon capture projects and says data centers should cover their own infrastructure costs.4 She faces candidates including Republican Michael Echols and Democrat Dan McKay in the Fifth District's open primary.5
Record and controversies
Federal review of the Regents' college plan
In February 2026, the Education Department announced a civil rights investigation into the Board of Regents' degree completion goals for Black and Hispanic students, alleging racial discrimination.6 The plan dated to 2019, before Cordell's 2024 appointment.67 Regents staff said the plan contained no prohibited preferences, and the state's budget chief said the goal was not tied to funding.6 Cordell, then on campaign leave while retaining the chair title, said the board would provide requested information; the February report announced an investigation rather than a discrimination finding.6