Valarie Hodges has a background rooted in both religious service and public office. She spent nearly two decades as a missionary, establishing an international ministry that included operations in Central America and Mexico. Hodges transitioned into politics, gaining prominence through her election to the Louisiana State Senate. She has demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale infrastructure projects and educational policy, including the creation of a task force for the Comite River Diversion Canal project and advocating for a school voucher program. Her professional journey reflects a blend of leadership in both non-profit and governmental sectors.

Valarie Hodges's political identity is marked by an intriguing blend of localized economic advocacy and socially conservative education policies. Her support for the Comite River Diversion Canal project highlights a highly localized approach to economic issues, while her subsequent opposition to school vouchers when they included private Muslim schools reveals an unexpected ideological pivot. Hodges's public health stance during the COVID-19 pandemic, opposing stay-at-home orders and promoting pseudoscientific treatments, underscores a confrontational and anti-science approach. Meanwhile, her legislative efforts to restrict public school curriculum on race and oppression demonstrate a socially conservative edge, raising questions about her broader educational philosophy.