2026 midterms: A Louisiana voter's guide
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The 2026 midterms are just weeks away, with Louisiana voters weighing their choices as Republicans fight to hold on to the House and Senate.
Why it matters: Louisiana will elect a new U.S. senator, House representatives and vote on a slate of other local measures.
Here's what we're watching on the Nov. 3 ballot:
U.S. Senate: Republican Rep. Julia Letlow faces off against lesser-known Democrat Jamie Davis to replace Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost his reelection bid in a party primary earlier this year.
- Davis faces long odds: National Democrats haven't sent checks, the Times-Picayune reports, and Louisiana hasn't elected a Black person to statewide office since Reconstruction, the Washington Post says.
- Meanwhile, this race has been fairly quiet, with Letlow so far ignoring Davis' call for a debate, but some polls show it could be a tighter race than expected.
U.S. House of Representatives: Two top GOP leaders — Rep. Mike Johnson and Rep. Steve Scalise — come from Louisiana, but the most interesting House race to watch is in District 6.
- There, Rep. Cleo Fields declined to seek reelection after the Louisiana Legislature redrew the district map to favor Republicans. Now, a crowded field includes Republican state senators Blake Miguez and Rick Edmonds, and Democrat Chauna Banks.
- The House races are open primaries. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two advance to the Dec. 12 general election.
Constitutional amendments: Voters statewide will also vote yes or no on 10 constitutional amendments. They're aimed at:
- Allowing the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran to keep a special property tax exemption if they move to a new home.
- Creating flexibility for local taxing authorities when increasing property tax rates.
- Banning post-conviction bail for people who have been convicted of certain aggravated crimes against children.
- Limiting Louisiana governors to two four-year terms during their lifetime.
- Giving state officials flexibility in how public employee retirement debt gets paid.
- Giving parishes and municipalities a new option to increase homestead exemptions for seniors.
- Allowing local governments to spend public dollars on finding and replacing lead water pipes on private property.
- Banning private companies with ties to "foreign adversaries" from expropriating private property.
- Increasing the $100,000 income threshold for property tax assessment freezes to $150,000.
- Allowing parishes to create property tax exemptions for previously blighted properties.
Zoom in: Additional races and ballot questions across the metro include local judgeships, a New Orleans charter amendment, and contests for the Public Service Commission and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Be smart: See your full sample ballot through Geaux Vote.
- You can find an extensive voter guide, including candidate Q&As, from Verite.
- Read the full text of each constitutional amendment here. The nonpartisan Public Affairs Research Council has a full explainer and a one-pager.
The bottom line: Go make your picks and show off your "I voted" sticker.