The political balance in Louisiana was heavily affected by the post-Hurricane Katrina departure from New Orleans. Heavily Democratic New Orleans lost some 1/3 of its population. The overall effect reduced the Democrats' base of support in the state and turned Louisiana into a Republican-leaning state thereafter. New Orleans remained Democratic, electing Mitch Landrieu as mayor in February 2010. In the 2008 elections, Louisiana sent a mixed result, with the election of U.S. SenatorJohn McCain for President and the reelection of Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. The other senator, at the time, was Republican David Vitter.
Since that election, Republicans have rapidly come to control nearly every federal and statewide office. Both US Senators, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, are Republicans. Republicans also hold five of the six U.S. Representative seats from Louisiana. Every statewide office is held by a Republican, and both chambers of the state legislature are majority Republican. By contrast, in 1960, not a single Republican served in either house of the Louisiana legislature. The first Republicans to serve in the legislature since Reconstruction were not elected until 1964, and both—Morley A. Hudson and Taylor W. O'Hearn—came from Shreveport.
In 2010, several Democrats switched parties bringing the statehouse under Republican control. In 2011, the special election victories of Fred Mills and Jonathan Perry switched the balance of power in the state senate, leaving Republicans in control of the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. Also, the party switch of Attorney General Buddy Caldwell caused the Republican party to control every statewide office. However, this was broken in 2015, when Democrat John Bel Edwards won the governor's race.
Republicans won the first Senate seat since Reconstruction in 2004, with the election of David Vitter. He became the first popularly elected Republican Senator as well. In 2014, Republicans won both Senate seats for the first time since 1872.
Since 1977 state elections in Louisiana have used a unique system similar to the majority-runoff system used in some other jurisdictions, which in Louisiana has become known as a “jungle” primary or Louisiana primary[1] or an "open" primary, where all the candidates for an office run together in one election. If someone gets a majority, that individual wins outright; otherwise, the top two candidates, irrespective of partisan affiliation, meet in a runoff election. This primary system is used for state, parish, municipal, and congressional races, but is not used for presidential elections.[2]
Louisiana is one of only five states that elects its state officials in odd-numbered years. (The others are Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia). Louisiana holds elections for these offices every four years in the year preceding a presidential election. Thus, the two most recent gubernatorial elections in Louisiana took place in 2015 and 2019. Louisiana is one of 18 states that run separate elections for governor and lieutenant governor, a process that has resulted in governor-lieutenant governor pairs from different parties and/or widely differing political ideologies.
Louisiana's unique primary system was instituted in 1975 by Democratic governor Edwin Edwards.[3] Until 1997, the open primary election was held in October, meaning that no election would be held in November if the leading candidate won over 50 percent of the vote in October.[3] Between 2008 and 2010, federal races did not use the jungle primary system.[4][5] Between the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Shelby County v. Holder (a 2013 Supreme Court case), changes to Louisiana election law required preclearance with the United States Department of Justice.[6]
Elections in Louisiana fall under the purview of the secretary of state. In a 2020 study, Louisiana was ranked as the 24th hardest state for citizens to vote in.[7]
^Liptak, Adam (25 June 2013). "Supreme Court Invalidates Key Part of Voting Rights Act". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
^J. Pomante II, Michael; Li, Quan (15 Dec 2020). "Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020". Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy. 19 (4): 503–509. doi:10.1089/elj.2020.0666. S2CID 225139517. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
External linksedit
at the Louisiana Secretary of State official website
"State Elections Legislation Database", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures, State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020
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The political balance in Louisiana was heavily affected by the post Hurricane Katrina departure from New Orleans Heavily Democratic New Orleans lost some 1 3 of its population The overall effect reduced the Democrats base of support in the state and turned Louisiana into a Republican leaning state thereafter New Orleans remained Democratic electing Mitch Landrieu as mayor in February 2010 In the 2008 elections Louisiana sent a mixed result with the election of U S Senator John McCain for President and the reelection of Democratic U S Senator Mary Landrieu The other senator at the time was Republican David Vitter Since that election Republicans have rapidly come to control nearly every federal and statewide office Both US Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are Republicans Republicans also hold five of the six U S Representative seats from Louisiana Every statewide office is held by a Republican and both chambers of the state legislature are majority Republican By contrast in 1960 not a single Republican served in either house of the Louisiana legislature The first Republicans to serve in the legislature since Reconstruction were not elected until 1964 and both Morley A Hudson and Taylor W O Hearn came from Shreveport In 2010 several Democrats switched parties bringing the statehouse under Republican control In 2011 the special election victories of Fred Mills and Jonathan Perry switched the balance of power in the state senate leaving Republicans in control of the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction Also the party switch of Attorney General Buddy Caldwell caused the Republican party to control every statewide office However this was broken in 2015 when Democrat John Bel Edwards won the governor s race Republicans won the first Senate seat since Reconstruction in 2004 with the election of David Vitter He became the first popularly elected Republican Senator as well In 2014 Republicans won both Senate seats for the first time since 1872 Contents 1 Voting System 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksVoting System editSince 1977 state elections in Louisiana have used a unique system similar to the majority runoff system used in some other jurisdictions which in Louisiana has become known as a jungle primary or Louisiana primary 1 or an open primary where all the candidates for an office run together in one election If someone gets a majority that individual wins outright otherwise the top two candidates irrespective of partisan affiliation meet in a runoff election This primary system is used for state parish municipal and congressional races but is not used for presidential elections 2 Louisiana is one of only five states that elects its state officials in odd numbered years The others are Kentucky Mississippi New Jersey and Virginia Louisiana holds elections for these offices every four years in the year preceding a presidential election Thus the two most recent gubernatorial elections in Louisiana took place in 2015 and 2019 Louisiana is one of 18 states that run separate elections for governor and lieutenant governor a process that has resulted in governor lieutenant governor pairs from different parties and or widely differing political ideologies Louisiana s unique primary system was instituted in 1975 by Democratic governor Edwin Edwards 3 Until 1997 the open primary election was held in October meaning that no election would be held in November if the leading candidate won over 50 percent of the vote in October 3 Between 2008 and 2010 federal races did not use the jungle primary system 4 5 Between the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Shelby County v Holder a 2013 Supreme Court case changes to Louisiana election law required preclearance with the United States Department of Justice 6 Elections in Louisiana fall under the purview of the secretary of state In a 2020 study Louisiana was ranked as the 24th hardest state for citizens to vote in 7 See also editNew Orleans mayoral elections Political party strength in Louisiana 2020 Louisiana elections United States presidential elections in LouisianaReferences edit Brinlee Morgan Louisiana Has Something Called A Jungle Primary Bustle Retrieved 2018 10 02 Barrow Bill 8 February 2011 Department of Justice gives approval to Louisiana s open primaries The Times Picayune Retrieved 20 October 2014 a b Mooney Chris 13 November 2002 Why Does Louisiana Have Such an Odd Election System Slate com Retrieved 20 October 2014 Louisiana Law Search Legis state la us Retrieved 12 July 2018 1 Archived 2010 08 12 at the Wayback Machine Liptak Adam 25 June 2013 Supreme Court Invalidates Key Part of Voting Rights Act The New York Times Retrieved 20 October 2014 J Pomante II Michael Li Quan 15 Dec 2020 Cost of Voting in the American States 2020 Election Law Journal Rules Politics and Policy 19 4 503 509 doi 10 1089 elj 2020 0666 S2CID 225139517 Retrieved 14 January 2022 External links editGeaux Vote at the Louisiana Secretary of State official website Louisiana at Ballotpedia Louisiana Elections amp Politics from The Times Picayune newspaper State Elections Legislation Database Ncsl org Washington D C National Conference of State Legislatures State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year 2020 nbsp nbsp This Louisiana elections related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elections in Louisiana amp oldid 1195178153, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
