Louisiana’s focus has turned to the upcoming presidential primaries, following Governor Jeff Landry’s special legislative sessions earlier in the year. Despite little doubt on the winners, with Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump having unofficially secured their party’s nominations, these primaries in Louisiana and other states still play a crucial role in the selection process. In 2020, Louisiana’s primary was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic and only took place in July, with Biden and Trump easily winning.
The 2016 Louisiana primaries were more competitive, with Trump narrowly beating Sen. Ted Cruz on the Republican side and Hillary Clinton dominating Sen. Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side. Today, Republicans control the government in Louisiana, with most prominent officials endorsing Trump. Trump’s victory in Louisiana in both the 2016 and 2020 elections highlighted the state’s strong Republican support, while Biden improved slightly on Clinton’s performance.
In the upcoming primaries, the Democratic ballot includes candidates like Biden and Marianne Williamson, while the Republican ballot features Trump and other former candidates. Only registered party members can participate in their respective primary, with delegates being allocated based on proportional voting in congressional districts. The old 2022 congressional district boundaries will be used for delegate allocation, not the new map signed by Landry.
Louisiana’s presidential primaries are not competitive this time around, given Biden and Trump’s presumed nominations. Turnout in previous elections has varied, with the pandemic increasing pre-Election Day voting in 2020. The amount of early voting and mail-in balloting options has increased significantly, with about 34% of total votes cast in the 2023 gubernatorial primary being done before Election Day. As of March 15, over 130,000 voters had already cast their ballots.
Vote counting in Louisiana usually concludes shortly after polls close on Election Day, with all results reported by early morning the next day. Looking ahead, there are still several months until the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and the November general election. As the primary election day approaches, Louisiana residents will have the opportunity to participate in the presidential primaries, although the ultimate winners are already determined. The state’s political landscape continues to show strong support for the Republican party, with Trump’s influence still prevalent.
