Population: 4,670,724 (2015)
Filing deadline: July 22, 2016.
Primary: November 8, Run-Off December 10, 2016.
MORE ELECTION NEWS ABOUT LOUISIANA
Louisiana (R+12) is a conservative state which, like the rest of the South, has turned hard right in the past few decades. It is more amenable to moderate Democrats on the local level than most other southern states. Louisiana is 63% White and 30% Black.
FEDERAL LEVEL
Electors: 8. Louisiana is a safe state for the GOP in Presidential elections.
Senators: 2 Republicans.
Bill Cassidy. (Pic: Congress)
Senator class 2: Bill Cassidy (R)
Committees: Appropriations, Energy & Natural Resources, Health & Education, Veterans.
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: Bill Cassidy
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2020.
Status, May 25, 2016:
State Senator and physician Bill Cassidy (b.1957) served three terms in the House before winning 56% against the incumbent Democrat in the 2014 run-off.
David Vitter. (Pic: Congress)
Senator class 3: David Vitter (R)
Committees: Small Business (Chair), Banking, Environment, Judiciary.
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: ?
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Likely GOP in 2016.
Status, Sep 4, 2016:
Lawyer David Vitter (b.1961) won a special election to the House in 1999 and served until he was elected to the Senate in 2004. He was involved in a prostitution scandal in 2008 but was re-elected with 57% in 2010. He lost a very bitter and dirty gubernatorial election in 2015 and is not seeking re-election this year. There is a very crowded field seeking to replace him. GOP candidates are Congressmen Charles Boustany Jr and John Fleming Jr, former Congressman Joseph Cao, business consultant Donald Crawford, former State Rep and KKK activist David Duke, State Treasurer John Kennedy, retired Colonel Rob Maness, financial advisor Charles Marsala and business development consultant Abhay Patel. Democratic candidates are Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, lawyer Derrick Edwards, lawyer and former LG candidate Caroline Fayard, contractor Gary Landrieu, farmer and former USAF inspector general Vinny Mendoza and businessman Josh Pellerin. Former State Senator Troy Hebert, who started his career as a Democrat, will run as an independent.
Representatives: 6 Representatives; 1 Democrat and 5 Republicans. In Louisiana, if no one takes more than 50% in November, the top two vote getters, irrespective of party affiliation, move on to a run-off in December. This is known as a ‘Jungle primary’.
Steve Scalise. (Pic: Congress)
District 1
Representative: Steve Scalise (R)
Committees: Energy & Commerce.
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: Steve Scalise
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2016.
Status, Sep 4, 2016:
The district (R+26) covers southeastern parts of the state, east, north and south of New Orleans, including the Mississippi Delta area. It is 77% White and 12% Black. Businessman Steve Scalise (b.1965) first won a special election in 2008 and took 78% in 2014. He is the Chief Whip of the House GOP Caucus. Three Dems are running; veteran Lee Dugas, technical analyst Danil Faust and psychiatrist Joe Swider.
Cedric Richmond. (Pic: Congress)
District 2
Representative: Cedric Richmond (D)
Committees: Homeland Security, Judiciary.
Democratic nominee: Cedric Richmond
Republican nominee: ?
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe Dem in 2016.
Status, Sep 4, 2016:
The district (D+23) includes most of New Orleans, stretching northwest to take in parts of Baton Rouge. It is 32% White and 59% Black. Lawyer and State Representative Cedric Richmond (b.1973) was first elected in 2010 and took 69% in 2014. Lawyer, East Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden and travel agent Kenneth Cutno are running against him; both are fellow Dems.
Charles Boustany. (Pic: Congress)
District 3
Representative: Charles Boustany Jr (R)
Committees: Ways and Means.
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: ?
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2016.
Status, Sep 4, 2016:
The district (R+19) covers the southwestern corner of the state and is 72% White and 23% Black. Surgeon Charles Boustany (b.1956) was first elected in 2004 and took 79% in 2014. He is running for Senate in 2016 and the race to succeed him is getting crowded. Running for the GOP is Public Service Commissioner and 2015 gubernatorial candidate Scott Angelle, physician Bryan Barrilleaux, energy executive Greg Ellison, businessman and former State Representative Brett Geymann, retired police officer Clay Higgins, lawyer and Health Care Executive Gus Rantz, lawyer and former US ambassador Grover Rees and retiree Herman Vidrine. The Dems are running artist Jake Hebert and insurance agency owner Larry Rader.
John Fleming. (Pic: Congress)
District 4
Representative: John Fleming Jr (R)
Committees: Armed Forces, Natural Resources.
Democratic nominee: Marshall Jones Jr
Republican nominee: ?
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2016.
Status, Sep 4, 2016:
The district (R+13) covers the rest of the western border areas with Texas, including Shreveport. It is 62% White and 32% Black. Businessman and physician John Fleming (b.1951) was first elected in 2008 and took 73% in 2014. He is running for Senate in 2016. GOP candidates to replace him are physician Trey Baucum, lawyer and State Senator Elbert Guillory, energy executive and Shreveport Councilman Oliver Jenkins, lawyer Rick John and lawyer and State Representative Mike Johnson. The only Democrat is lawyer Marshall Jones Jr.
Ralph Abraham. (Pic: Congress)
District 5
Representative: Ralph Abraham (R)
Committees: Agriculture, Veterans.
Republican nominee: Billy Burkette
Republican nominee: Ralph Abraham
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2016.
Status, Sep 4, 2016:
The district (R+15) contains northern and central areas of the state, plus a long, thin line east, along the Mississippi state border. It is 63% White and 33% Black. Physician Ralph Abraham took it in 2014 by defeating the incumbent GOP Congressman in the primary and winning in December with 64%. He’s facing fellow Republican and businessman Billy Burkette in November.
Garret Graves. (Pic: Congress)
District 6
Representative: Garret Graves (R)
Committees: Natural Resources, Transportation.
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: Garret Graves
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2016.
Status, Sep 4, 2016:
The district (R+21) covers south central parts of the state, including most of Baton Rouge. It is 72% White and 21% Black. Former gubernatorial aide Garret Graves (b.1972) has held several staff jobs for Louisiana Republicans. He held the seat for the GOP in 2014, with 62% in December. He’s facing fellow GOPer & lawyer Bob Bell. The Dems are running real estate broker Richard Lieberman and Jermaine Sampson.
STATE LEVEL
John Bel Edwards. (Pic: State of LA)
Governor: John Bel Edwards (D)
Democratic nominee: John Bel Edwards
Republican nominee: ?
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Leans GOP in 2019.
Status, May 25, 2016:
Lawyer and State Representative John Bel Edwards (b.1966) beat US Senator David Vitter in 2015, with 56%. Louisiana is still a conservative state, and should favor the GOP if they run a reasonably scandal free nominee next time.
Billy Nungesser. (Pic: State of LA)
Lieutenant Governor: Billy Nungesser (R)
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: Billy Nungesser
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2019.
Status, May 25, 2016:
The LG is nominated and elected separately in Louisiana. Businessman and former Parish Mayor Billy Nungesser (b.1959) was first elected in 2015, with 55%.
Tom Schedler. (Pic: State of LA)
Secretary of State: Tom Schedler (R)
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: Tom Schedler
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2019.
Status, May 25, 2016:
State Senator and businessman Tom Schedler (b.1950) was appointed to the office in 2010 and took 62% in 2015.
John Kennedy. (Pic: State of LA)
Treasurer: John Kennedy (R)
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: John Kennedy
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2019.
Status, May 25, 2016:
Lawyer John Kennedy (b.1951) was first elected in 1999 as a Democrat, but switched parties in 2007. He took 80% against another Republican in 2015. Kennedy is running for Senate in 2016.
Jeff Landry. (Pic: State of LA)
Attorney General: Jeff Landry (R)
Democratic nominee:
Republican nominee: Jeff Landry
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2019.
Status, May 25, 2016:
Lawyer and former Congressman Jeff Landry (b.1970) defeated the incumbent Republican in 2015, with 56%.
Mike Strain. (Pic: State of LA)
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry: Mike Strain (R)
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: Mike Strain
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2019.
Status, May 25, 2016:
State Representative and veterinarian Mike Strain (b.1958) was first elected in 2007 and took 58% in 2015.
Jim Donelon. (Pic: State of LA)
Insurance Commissioner: Jim Donelon (R)
Democratic nominee: ?
Republican nominee: Jim Donelon
Rating, May 25, 2016:
Safe GOP in 2019.
Status, May 25, 2016:
State Representative and lawyer Jim Donelon (b.1944) was first appointed to the office in 2006 and took 54% in 2015.
State Senate 39 (14D / 25R). Term: 4 years. Elections in 2019.
State House: 105 (42D / 61R / 2I). Term: 4 years. Elections in 2019.
