A red wave swept Louisiana as the Republican Party dominated the 2024 elections.
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State Office, 60% of Louisiana voters supported Donald Trump in the presidential election. The former president received over 1.2 million votes compared to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s 766,000 votes.
Trump makes history as the second president elected who will serve two nonconsecutive terms, the first being Grover Cleveland in the 1880s. Trump’s return to the Oval Office marks the first time Republicans will control the executive branch since 2020.
At his Mar-a-Lago watch party, Trump pledged to fulfill his campaign promises, targeting issues such as inflation and immigration.
“I want to thank millions of Americans for showing up in record numbers and delivering a victory,” Trump said. “We will pay you back and do our best job. We will turn it around in every way.”
Of the six congressional elections that occurred throughout Louisiana, Republicans won four seats.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-New Orleans) won reelection as the representative of the 1st Congressional District. He bested Democratic opponent Mel Manuel, receiving 68% of the votes.
The 4th Congressional District encompasses part of Ouachita Parish and nearby Union Parish. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Shreveport) reclaimed his seat in the House with 89% of the votes.
Following his reelection, Johnson published a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The American people have spoken and given us a mandate. We will be prepared to deliver on day one,” Johnson said. “With Republicans in control, we will secure the border, grow our economy, restore American energy dominance and end the radical woke agenda.”
Julia Letlow (R-Monroe) vied for reelection as the 5th Congressional District’s representative. The Monroe native has represented Northeast Louisiana in the House since 2021. She totaled 55% of the votes, avoiding a runoff against Republican Vinny Mendoza and Democrat Michael Vallien, Jr.
Troy A. Carter, Sr. (R-New Orleans) was the sole Louisiana Democrat elected to the House of Representatives. Residents of New Orleans and the surrounding areas reelected Carter with 60% of the votes.
Louisiana election officials still need to finalize the results of the congressional election for the 6th District. Democrat Cleo Fields will face Republican Elbery Guillory in the Dec. 7 runoff election.
The presidential and state elections were not the only ones appearing on the ballot. Louisianans also voted on a proposed amendment to the state constitution.
73% of voters supported the measure, which would “require that federal revenues received by the state generated from Outer Continental Shelf alternative or renewable energy production be deposited into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.”
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State Office, 66% of eligible voters visited the polls or mailed absentee ballots. Specifically, in Monroe, 81.4% of eligible voters participated in the election.
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry expressed her gratitude for the increased turnout.
“I also want to express my appreciation to the voters of Louisiana for making their voices heard and the candidates who offered themselves for service,” Landry said.
