The Louisiana State Legislature approved a bill that would result in a move to party primary elections for Congress, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Public Service Commission, and Louisiana Supreme Court starting in 2026. But statewide offices, legislative, and local elections would continue to use the jungle primary system.
Democratic New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says voters did not ask for this change.
“I believe this bill will cause mass confusion, I believe the people of this state will be frustrated,” said Duplessis.
Despite Duplessis’ opposition, the Senate still approved the bill on a 29 to 9 vote.
New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez carried the bill for the governor on the Senate floor.
“This is something that our governor has made a priority, it’s something that he thinks will make Louisiana better, and I think it’s incumbent on us to see how we can make this legislation a reality,” said Miguez.
But the bill that passed is not everything Governor Jeff Landry wanted. Landry wanted statewide offices and legislative races to move to closed party primaries, too.
Miguez cited a recent poll that shows there is public support for closed primaries.
“In that poll, it shows 60 percent of the people believe that how we elect our president makes more sense than how elect our state and local officials,” said Miguez.
Elections for Louisiana Supreme Court, PSC, and BESE would also move to party primaries in 2026 under this bill. And unaffiliated voters will be able to vote in the primaries.
Landry asked lawmakers to pass a bill that would only allow registered voters of a party to vote in their party primary.
Carencro Representative Julie Emerson is the author of the legislation.
“It’s not exactly how I wanted it, but again this is a process we go through, we have 144 different voices here,” said Emerson.
The proposal heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
