Closed Party Primaries in Louisiana
Since the dawn of civilization, people have looked to their political officials and asked; What, exactly, is it that you do?
While this guide might not answer every one of your questions about what, exactly, your elected officials are responsible for, it will (we hope) give you some clarity on the various offices that are supposed to represent your interests at the state and local level, and the responsibilities that are supposed to go with those offices.
Starting in 2026, Louisiana will use closed party primaries for certain federal and statewide races. This replaces the state’s traditional open (“jungle”) primary for those specific offices.
Download the Closed Primary FAQs One Pager
A closed primary means each political party chooses its own candidate before the general election.
- Republicans vote only in Republican primaries
- Democrats vote only in Democratic primaries
- Voters with “No Party” (independent) can choose ONE party’s primary to vote in
You can vote, but you must:
- Choose either the Democratic OR Republican primary
- Vote in only one party’s ballot
- Stick with that party if there is a runoff election
You cannot vote in both parties’ primaries.
Democrats run only against Democrats
- Republicans run only against Republicans
- Each party picks one winner to move on to the general election
If no one gets more than 50%
- The top two candidates in that party go to a runoff
- The runoff decides the party’s final nominee
Voters choose between:
- The Democratic nominee
- The Republican nominee
- Any independent or other party candidates
This change affects:
- Which ballot you can vote on
- How party nominees are chosen
- How No Party and independent voters participate
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Louisiana Supreme Court
- Public Service Commission
- Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE)
These will continue under Louisiana’s open primary system
(all candidates on one ballot):
Statewide Offices
- Governor & Lieutenant Governor
- Secretary of State
- Attorney General
- State Treasurer
- Insurance Commissioner
- Agriculture Commissioner
Legislative & Judicial
- Louisiana House
- Louisiana Senate
- All state judges except Supreme Court
Local Elections
- Sheriff, District Attorney
- Mayor, City Council
- School Board, Police Jury
- Other local offices
What Races Will Be On The Ballot in the May 16 Closed Party Primary?
- US Senate, 1 Seat
- US House, 6 Seats
- 1st, 3rd, and 4th State Supreme Court Districts
- Public Service Commission, Districts 1 and 5
- BESE District 1
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry leads the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The Commissioner is elected every four years and is not subject to term limits.
Responsibilities
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for administering the programs and enforcing the regulations that impact every aspect of the state’s agriculture and forestry, including agricultural chemistry programs, horticulture programs, pesticide and environmental programs, conservation, seed programs, animal health, food safety, forestry, and medical marijuana.
These programs are intended to ensure food safety in Louisiana and that the environment remains suitable for continued growth of the state’s economy.
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry leads the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The Commissioner is elected every four years and is not subject to term limits.
Responsibilities
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for administering the programs and enforcing the regulations that impact every aspect of the state’s agriculture and forestry, including agricultural chemistry programs, horticulture programs, pesticide and environmental programs, conservation, seed programs, animal health, food safety, forestry, and medical marijuana.
These programs are intended to ensure food safety in Louisiana and that the environment remains suitable for continued growth of the state’s economy.
BESE--Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
BESE is made up of 11 members, eight are elected from the BESE districts, and the other three are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. BESE members elect a president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer from its membership.
The members are also divided into four separate committees: Administration and Finance, Educator Effectiveness, Academic Goals and Instructional Improvement, School Innovation and Turnaround. Each committee considers issues within its specific subject area and then makes recommendations to the Board as a whole.
Responsibilities BESE has the responsibility for governing all Louisiana elementary and secondary schools; special schools for the deaf, blind, and physically handicapped; and educational units within the state’s correctional institutions and mental facilities. There are also Task Forces/Commissions and Advisory Councils within BESE.
BESE has the authority to create policies that govern the statewide operations of public and non-public schools, to administer the budget for educational programs and services at those schools, and to conduct administrative hearings to resolve any conflict concerning its policies and actions. Some of the many specifically defined duties assigned to this board by law include approval of certification requirements, policies for assessment and evaluation of teachers, administrators and students, approval of textbooks, and administering the state’s charter school program.
BESE is made up of 11 members, eight are elected from the BESE districts, and the other three are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. BESE members elect a president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer from its membership.
The members are also divided into four separate committees: Administration and Finance, Educator Effectiveness, Academic Goals and Instructional Improvement, School Innovation and Turnaround. Each committee considers issues within its specific subject area and then makes recommendations to the Board as a whole.
Responsibilities BESE has the responsibility for governing all Louisiana elementary and secondary schools; special schools for the deaf, blind, and physically handicapped; and educational units within the state’s correctional institutions and mental facilities. There are also Task Forces/Commissions and Advisory Councils within BESE.
BESE has the authority to create policies that govern the statewide operations of public and non-public schools, to administer the budget for educational programs and services at those schools, and to conduct administrative hearings to resolve any conflict concerning its policies and actions. Some of the many specifically defined duties assigned to this board by law include approval of certification requirements, policies for assessment and evaluation of teachers, administrators and students, approval of textbooks, and administering the state’s charter school program.
State Senator
Your State Senator is elected by voters in your senate district to represent that district in the state legislature. There are 39 senators in the Louisiana legislature, and each senate district contains an average of approximately 116,000 people. Elections to the Senate occur every four years, and senators are limited three four-year terms (12 years).
Responsibilities The primary duties of a state senator are creating, debating, and voting on legislation that either makes new laws or modifies existing ones. Legislation must be approved by the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, before being signed into law by the Governor.
The laws either created or modified by the state legislature are an important addition to the laws that must be followed at the local level as well as at the federal level.
Your State Senator is elected by voters in your senate district to represent that district in the state legislature. There are 39 senators in the Louisiana legislature, and each senate district contains an average of approximately 116,000 people. Elections to the Senate occur every four years, and senators are limited three four-year terms (12 years).
Responsibilities The primary duties of a state senator are creating, debating, and voting on legislation that either makes new laws or modifies existing ones. Legislation must be approved by the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, before being signed into law by the Governor.
The laws either created or modified by the state legislature are an important addition to the laws that must be followed at the local level as well as at the federal level.
State Representative
Your State Representative is elected by voters in your district to represent the district in the state legislature. There are 105 representatives in the Louisiana legislature, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people. Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of three terms (total 12 years).
Responsibilities
Primary duties of a State Representative are creating, debating, and voting on legislation that either makes new laws or modifies existing ones. Legislation must be approved by the State House of Representatives, as well as the State Senate, before being signed into law by the Governor of the state.
The laws either created or modified by the state legislature are an important addition to the laws that must be followed at the local level as well as at the federal level.
Your State Representative is elected by voters in your district to represent the district in the state legislature. There are 105 representatives in the Louisiana legislature, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people. Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of three terms (total 12 years).
Responsibilities
Primary duties of a State Representative are creating, debating, and voting on legislation that either makes new laws or modifies existing ones. Legislation must be approved by the State House of Representatives, as well as the State Senate, before being signed into law by the Governor of the state.
The laws either created or modified by the state legislature are an important addition to the laws that must be followed at the local level as well as at the federal level.
Sheriff
The Sheriff’s office in your parish provides law enforcement, detention, court security, and homeland security services within that parish. It also enforces state law within the parish and maintains the parish prison.
The Sheriff has an influential role in providing a fair and responsible police force that citizens can rely on to provide equitable justice regardless of our individual characteristics (such as race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
The Sheriff’s office in your parish provides law enforcement, detention, court security, and homeland security services within that parish. It also enforces state law within the parish and maintains the parish prison.
The Sheriff has an influential role in providing a fair and responsible police force that citizens can rely on to provide equitable justice regardless of our individual characteristics (such as race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity).