With House primary delay, Louisiana thrust into election chaos
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s abrupt decision to postpone the state’s House primaries just days before voting was scheduled to begin has sent Republican officials scrambling. Local election heads are convening open meetings to educate voters about the change, which Landry triggered immediately after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this week that its map was unconstitutional, blowing a hole in the Voting Rights Act. That’s giving Republicans the narrowest of windows to gerrymander one or two new seats before the 2026 midterms — and is leaving candidates guessing where they might be running. Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed late Thursday challenging Landry’s ability to issue the sweeping emergency executive order threatens to further upend Louisiana’s election season. And the move only suspended the House races — meaning the rest of the primaries will continue on as scheduled, including the hotly contested Senate race, whether voters realize it or not. “You have to move mountains to change the map to a constitutional one, and obviously shift the election,” said John Fleming, a Republican and former House Freedom Caucus member running for Senate. "It's going to be tough.” Matt Gromlich, a Democrat running in Louisiana’s 4th District, said he has had to pause his two-week early voting plan, and is considering taking legal action against the state. “It is completely anti-Democratic to cancel an election that has already begun,” he said. As one Louisiana Republican strategist working on a House race, granted anonymity to speak freely about the fallout, put it: “It is an unmitigated shit show fever dream.” Altogether, the chaos in Louisiana over the last few days underscores how the latest chapter of the redistricting wars will be defined by a complicated legal and political battle as both red and blue states race to draw new maps. Landry on Thursday delayed House elections until at least mid-July, saying it was necessary to comply with the court’s ruling. All other races will pr