Louisiana 2026 elections

Political landscape in Louisiana

Overview

Louisiana lies in the Deep South on the Gulf of Mexico, with Texas lying to its west, Arkansas to its north and Mississippi to its east; much of its eastern edge follows the Mississippi River. Among the states it is 31st by area and 25th by population, with about 4.6 million residents, and it is divided into parishes in place of counties. Baton Rouge is the capital and New Orleans is the largest city. Much of the land formed from river sediment, producing broad deltas, coastal marshes and swamps. France claimed the territory in 1682; it was under Spanish rule from 1762 to 1801 and returned briefly to France before Napoleon sold it to the United States in 1803, and it became the 18th state in 1812. After statehood it saw an agricultural boom in cotton and sugarcane, crops cultivated mainly by enslaved people. Its French heritage is reflected in its dialects, culture and legal system, alongside Spanish, Acadian, Creole and West African influences.

Officeholders

As of October 2026, Governor Jeff Landry and US Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are all Republicans.

2026 elections

Louisiana's November 3, 2026 ballot includes a US Senate race, elections in all six House districts, and ten ballot measures on topics such as gubernatorial term limits, post-conviction bail and property tax exemptions.