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Thirty-two candidates are running for Louisiana’s six U.S. House districts — the most since 2016

By

Briana Ryan

This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Louisiana was Feb. 13, 2026.

Thirty-two candidates — 15 Democrats and 17 Republicans — are running for Louisiana’s six U.S. House districts. That’s 5.3 candidates per district. There were four candidates per district in 2024, 3.7 in 2022, five in 2020, 4.7 in 2018, 6.5 in 2016, and 5.8 in 2014.

Here are some other highlights from this year’s filings:

This year marks the first time Democratic and Republican candidates will run in separate U.S. House primaries. Previously, all candidates ran against each other on the same ballot.

  • This year is also the first that will use primary runoffs. Previously, the state used the Louisiana majority-vote system. Under this system, a candidate who received a majority of the votes cast for an office won outright. If no candidate reached that threshold, a second round of voting was held between the top two vote-getters. 
  • One district — the 5th district — is open this year because Rep. Julia Letlow (R-5th) is running for the U.S. Senate. There was one open district in 2024, none in 2022, one in 2020, none in 2018, two in 2016, and one in 2014.
  • Nine primaries — five Democratic and four Republican — are contested this year. In total, there were five contested primaries in 2024, four in 2022, six in 2020, six in 2018, five in 2016, and five in 2014.
  • Twelve candidates — five Democrats and seven Republicans — are running in the open 5th district, the most candidates running for a district this year.
  • Three incumbents — one Democrat and two Republicans — are facing primary challengers this year. There were four incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, four in 2022, five in 2020, six in 2018, three in 2016, and three in 2014.
  • The 2nd district is guaranteed to Democrats because no Republicans will appear on the ballot. Democrats filed to run in all six districts, meaning none are guaranteed to Republicans. 

Louisiana is holding U.S. House primaries on May 16, 2026. If needed, Louisiana will hold runoff elections on June 27, 2026.

In Louisiana, primary winners are determined by majority vote. In the case that no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast, the top two candidates proceed to a runoff election.