Elections
Louisiana 2026 Primary Election: Date, Rules & What to Know
The Louisiana 2026 congressional primary was held on May 16, 2026. General Election Day is November 3, 2026.
Live on Congress Countdown
See Louisiana's current congressional delegation
Term end dates, party breakdown, and which seats are on the November ballot.
Louisiana U.S. Senate Primary — Results
Runoff pendingIncumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy lost renomination, finishing third (24.8%) — the first elected incumbent senator to lose renomination since 2012. The Republican nomination goes to a June 27 runoff between Julia Letlow (44.8%) and John Fleming (28.3%); Democrats hold a concurrent runoff. (2026 is Louisiana’s first Senate race using party primaries instead of a single blanket primary since 2010.)
No candidate cleared the threshold outright. A runoff is scheduled for June 27, 2026 to determine the nominee.
⚠ House primaries suspended: A Supreme Court ruling struck down Louisiana's congressional map. House primary dates are pending redistricting. Senate primary proceeds as scheduled. Senate primary proceeds as scheduled. House primaries are suspended pending a Supreme Court redistricting ruling (as of April 2026). No House primary date has been set.
Primary Runoff · June 27, 2026
General Election · November 3, 2026
What's on the Louisiana 2026 Ballot
U.S. House of Representatives
All U.S. House seats in Louisiana are on the 2026 ballot. Every House member runs for re-election every two years. View Louisiana representatives →
U.S. Senate — Class II Seat
Louisiana's Class II Senate seat is up for election in 2026. The current senator is Bill Cassidy (R). Class II senators were last elected in 2020 and serve six-year terms.
Louisiana's Primary System: Partisan Closed Primary
Louisiana holds a closed primary, meaning you must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent and unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register with a party before the registration deadline.
Runoff Election: Louisiana may hold a primary runoff on June 27, 2026. A runoff occurs when if no candidate wins a majority (50%+1) in the party primary. The top two candidates from the original primary face each other in the runoff.
Louisiana 2026 Election Key Dates
| May 16, 2026 | Primary Election (passed) |
| June 27, 2026 | Primary Runoff — if needed |
| October 2026 | Voter registration deadlines (check your state) |
| November 3, 2026 | General Election |
| January 3, 2027 | 120th Congress convenes |
Voter Registration in Louisiana
You must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent/unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register before the deadline. Registration deadlines vary — most states require registration 15–30 days before the primary, though some offer same-day registration.
Check your registration status and find your polling place at vote.gov.
See All State Primary Dates
Compare Louisiana's primary to other states' 2026 schedules.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Louisiana 2026 U.S. Senate primary?
Incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy lost renomination, finishing third (24.8%) — the first elected incumbent senator to lose renomination since 2012. The Republican nomination goes to a June 27 runoff between Julia Letlow (44.8%) and John Fleming (28.3%); Democrats hold a concurrent runoff. (2026 is Louisiana’s first Senate race using party primaries instead of a single blanket primary since 2010.)
When is the Louisiana primary election in 2026?
The Louisiana 2026 congressional primary is May 16, 2026. If no candidate wins the required threshold, a runoff will be held on June 27, 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026.
When is the Louisiana primary runoff in 2026?
Louisiana holds a primary runoff on June 27, 2026. A runoff is triggered when if no candidate wins a majority (50%+1) in the party primary. The runoff is between the top two finishers from the original primary.
Can I vote in the Louisiana primary if I'm not registered with a party?
You must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent/unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register before the deadline.
What is on the Louisiana 2026 primary ballot?
All U.S. House seats in Louisiana are on the 2026 primary ballot. Additionally, the U.S. Senate seat (Class II) is up for election. The current senator is Bill Cassidy (R). Many states also hold primaries for governor and state legislature on the same day.
What type of primary does Louisiana use?
Louisiana holds a closed primary, meaning you must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent and unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register with a party before the registration deadline.
When is the Louisiana voter registration deadline for the 2026 primary?
Voter registration deadlines vary but are typically 15–30 days before the primary. Because Louisiana has a closed primary, you must also be registered with a party before the deadline to vote in a party primary. Check the Louisiana Secretary of State website or vote.gov for the exact deadline.
When is the Louisiana general election in 2026?
The 2026 general election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. This date is the same for all 50 states — it is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.