Throughout Louisiana, voters will head to the polls on May 16 for the primary party election. Some will see names and amendments on the ballot that they have never heard of before. Here is how to prepare and decide long before the ballot is in front of you.
During a primary party election, voters elect candidates to represent their party in the November general election for state-level offices. Roles typically included in this election are U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and others.
Primary rules vary by state and include open, closed, semi-closed and top two systems. Louisiana, for instance, is currently transitioning to a closed primary. That means only voters registered with a party can vote in said party’s contest: Democrats choose among Democratic candidates, Republicans among Republicans.
To vote for a candidate, you must first register. Louisiana’s Secretary of State website offers in-person, mail, and online options.
Use the GeauxVote Online Registration System at sos.la.gov to register or update your information. You can then print and mail your application or submit it electronically—however, electronic submission requires proof of licensure by providing your driver’s license number.
Registering in person at a Registrar of Voters Office includes proving your age, residency and identity using a current Louisiana driver’s license, birth certificate or similar official document. No license or ID? Provide a photo ID, utility bill, payroll check, or government document. In-person registration is also available at any Department of Motor Vehicles.
To register by mail, download the Louisiana Voter Registration Application, complete it and mail it to your local Registrar of Voters Office (addresses are included on the form).
Registered voters can check their information, polling places, results and more on the GeauxVote app, including their voter status. Some voters have been placed on the inactive list without realizing it, leaving them unable to vote.
Sample ballots can be viewed on GeauxVote, detailing the candidates running for the user’s party and the five amendments.
The ballot features three key races: U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and Public Service Commissioner (PSC).
Senators represent the whole state on issues such as immigration and healthcare. Representatives serve specific districts, handling federal funding and voting on laws. PSCs regulate private utilities statewide, setting rates for electricity, natural gas and water.
Three Democrats and four Republicans are vying for Louisiana’s U.S. Senate seat.
James Davis (D), a third-generation row-crop farmer and owner of Davis Farms, has served as both a police juror and state representative since 2015. His campaign focuses on making healthcare and education more affordable and stronger. Davis recently added the “No Kings” March in St. Tammany. His website is jamieforlouisiana.com.
Nicholas Albares (D) brings experience from nonprofit work with vulnerable populations and as a policy advisor for John Abel Edwards. He pledges to expand healthcare access and says his first act in the Senate would be a bill to reverse $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. More at nickforlouisiana.com.
Unlike the other democratic candidates, Albares received an endorsement from Charlie Melancon, who was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010. This endorsement adds a recognizable name in Louisiana Democratic politics to Albares’ corner.
Gary Crockett (D), who has held various business leadership roles, aims to boost Louisiana’s economy and put more money in families’ pockets. He also promises to protect Medicare, defend food security and lower homeowners’ insurance. Full platform at crockettforlouisiana.com.
Bill Cassidy (R) has held his U.S. Senate seat since January 2015. Before that, he served in the U.S. House from 2009 to 2015 and in the Louisiana State Senate from 2006 to 2008. According to his official Senate website, Cassidy advocates for conservative priorities, including border security and Second Amendment rights.
John Fleming (R) has served in multiple senior roles, including Deputy Assistant Secretary at HHS, Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the White House, according to his campaign site. Fleming says he intends to push for pro-gun policies and low taxes.
Julia Letlow (R) is the Republican U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, taking office in April 2021 as the first Republican woman elected to Congress from the state. She advocates for lower healthcare costs and supports the oil and gas industry. Notably, Letlow has come under fire from fellow candidates for “not being conservative enough.”
Little is known about the final Republican candidate, Mark Spencer. He has no apparent social media presence or listing on Ballotpedia. The only available information is that he appears on the Republican ballot.
Five Democrats and seven Republicans are campaigning for the U.S. Representative in Louisiana’s fifth Congressional District.
Jessee Fleenor (D), who ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2018 and has not held office since, wants to “eliminate billionaires and rein in artificial intelligence.” He says he would shift more funding to teachers, nurses and farmers. Details at votejessee.com.
Larry Foy (D) brings experience in ministry, social justice activism and community organizing, having served as a Public Policy Director and assistant professor. His priorities include Medicaid, a $15 minimum wage and full school funding. More at larryfoyforcongress.com.
Lindsay Garcia (D), whose background includes work as a recreational specialist and community advocate, has organized boycotts and coordinated forums. Her campaign focuses on digital equity, healthcare and economic opportunities for marginalized groups. See rubiagarcia.com.
Dan McKay (D) is running his first campaign this May. A graduate of ULM and LSU Law, he has served as a public defender for 15 years. His campaign centers on affordability for the 5th District.
Tania Nyman (D) has run unsuccessfully for various boards and councils but has an extensive history of organizing boycotts and protests. She fights against corporations and is a major advocate for public libraries and fair taxes. More at tanianymanforcongress.com.
Misti Cordell (R), a former member of Governor Jeff Landry’s Health and Hospitals Transition Team and an outreach representative for the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, now serves on several boards, including MedCamps of Louisiana and the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum. She advocates against transgender women in sports and open borders, among other conservative positions. But beyond airing her views in public forums, Cordell has not explained how she would govern or what she would actually implement.
Meanwhile, House Republican Delegation Chairman Michael Echols (R) is zeroing in on high grocery prices and lax immigration laws. His website, michaelechols.com, says he would expand American production and strengthen legal immigration to put those plans into motion. He is also helping advance a bill to raise teacher pay.
State Senator Rick Edmonds (R), who represents Louisiana’s District 6, chairs the Senate Education Committee and serves on the Senate Finance and Insurance Committees. Before joining the Senate in 2023, he represented District 66 in the State House, according to rickedmonds.com. Edmonds prioritizes education and previously introduced Senate Bill 304 to promote standards such as educational equality and affordability.
A stark contrast to those candidates is small business owner Austin McGee (R). McGee owns and operates Pittman Industrial, a welding and mechanical company. He has never held a board or elected position, and he says he has “never wanted to be in politics.” Yet, quoting James 4:17 on mcgeeforcongress.com, he explains his interest in running stems from a desire to push back against an overreaching government.
Michael Mebruer (R) has worked as a traveling medical professional and is the author of “10 Reasons the United States will Fall,” a book that examines the narcissism epidemic, parenting failures and gender confusion he believes exists in America. He is running to “return common sense to Washington,” protect future generations and strengthen the economy through practical solutions, which he details at mebruerforcongress.com.
Blake Miguez (R), a member of the Louisiana Senate who previously served in the state House from Iberia and Vermilion parishes, has kept a consistent agenda across his time in office. On blakemiguez.com, he pledges to ban Big Tech from interfering in elections, keep “men from competing in women’s sport,” and deport “violent illegal immigrants.” Among the candidates, Miguez holds a golden ticket: Donald Trump’s endorsement. However, his reputation is stained: In March 2026, it was announced that he was accused—though not criminally charged—of rape in 2007.
U.S. Navy veteran and former law enforcement administrator Samuel Wyatt brings more than two decades of field experience to the race. Now the Title IX Campus Coordinator at LSU Health-Shreveport, he has no political background. Wyatt shares many of his rivals’ positions, opposing transgender athletes in women’s sports and identifying as pro-life. What sets him apart is his stated admiration for the Department of War—he is committed to equipping the department with the tools it needs and ensuring veterans receive the help they need.
Two Democrats and two Republicans have signed up to fill the District 5 seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission left vacant by Democrat Foster Campbell.
James Green (D), pastor of Union Mission Baptist Church and Shreveport city council president, outlined his priorities under a platform he calls the “Seven Ways to Serve.” In this, he explains how he intends to lower utility bills, ensure reliable infrastructure and tackle other issues. His only known social media is a private Facebook account.
Austin Lawson (D) holds no previous political titles, and little is known about his education. However, he is active in the community by visiting infrastructure and raising concerns about rising electricity costs. Lawson is vocally opposed to data centers and urges residents to attend town halls. He posts interviews and policies on Instagram at @austinforpsc5.
John Atkins (R) has served three four-year terms as a Caddo Parish Commissioner. According to atkinsforpsc.com, he has also held roles, such as former president of the Board of Trustees of Southfield School and a seat on the Shreveport Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board. Before his current career, Atkins was a principal and partner at Atco Investment Company LLC, a diversified asset management firm in Shreveport. Similar to Green, he seeks transparency from utility companies and aims to cut government waste to lower taxes.
Aiden Joyner (R), a sophomore political science major at ULM, offsets his lack of political experience with leadership roles; he serves on the boards of Turning Point USA and the College Republicans at ULM. His top priorities are increasing transparency on utility bills and boosting competition in the utility industry to “lower bills across the board.”
Alongside the candidates are five amendments. Voters can mark each “yes” or “no.” The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice details the exact language used for the amendments in the ballots.
One aims to shift power over state civil service jobs from an independent commission to elected lawmakers. It would allow the legislature to add or remove positions in the unclassified civil service. However, that could weaken protections against political interference, affecting job stability and agency operations.
Two would allow the St. George community to run its own school system, similar to a separate parish system, even though it remains within East Baton Rouge Parish. The move would separate higher-income families from the broader parish, raising questions about funding, resources and equity.
Three promises teacher pay raises by paying down debt in the Teachers’ Retirement System. It boosts pay now, but it risks long-term education funding by creating uneven and unstable revenue streams.
Four gives parishes the power to classify and exempt certain property taxes. Wealthier parishes could absorb the losses; lower-income or rural ones may struggle. That could widen gaps in school funding, public safety and infrastructure.
Five raises the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75. Combined with low turnover and district boundary concerns, this could create long-term barriers to diversifying the bench.
Candidates and amendments may hide behind legal jargon. Do not let that stop you from making an informed choice, especially when they affect you, your family and your parish. Hopefully this article will help you vote on May 16 with confidence.
