Election 2023

Polling location sign that reads, "Early Voting Here"

Additional early voting locations rejected in La. House committee

BY: - May 23, 2023

Legislation that would have allowed — but not required — parishes to add early voting locations failed Tuesday in a Louisiana House committee, with opponents concerned about its cost and local election staffing. House Bill 538 from Rep. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport, includes guidelines that set out the minimum number of early voting locations a parish […]

East Baton Rouge Parish Voters stand in line at

Constitutional amendment plays on fears of foreign corruption in Louisiana elections

BY: - May 18, 2023

The Louisiana House approved a bill Wednesday that stems from conspiracy theories accusing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg of trying to influence local election officials. Gov. John Bel Edwards has vetoed similar bills in the past, but this year’s proposal will bypass his desk and go straight to voters with ballot language that plays on fears of […]

Clockwise from upper right: Attorney General Jeff Landry, former DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson, Lake Charles attorney Hunter Lundy, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana President Steven Procopio, former Louisiana Association of Business and Industry CEO Stephen Waguespack, state Rep. Richard Nelson, state Sen. Sharon Hewitt and Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder take part in the PAR governor's candidates forum Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana governor candidates pressed for stances at PAR forum

BY: - April 27, 2023

All seven of the well funded candidates for Louisiana governor agree more public money should be invested on early childhood education. Nearly all believe the state should maintain the expanded Medicaid coverage offered to qualifying residents seven years ago. Beyond that, they expressed fairly similar broad visions for the state under their leadership, with some […]

From left: Louisiana attorney general candidates Marty Maley, Liz Murrill, John Belton and John Stefanski listen to a question from Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio at a forum

Candidates for Louisiana attorney general prioritize crime fighting at forum

BY: - April 26, 2023

The four candidates running for attorney general cited crime as the top problem facing the state at a Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana forum held Wednesday in Baton Rouge. As to how they would address the issue if elected, each acknowledged, in varying degrees, the limited role the office plays in law enforcement. Criminal […]

John Stefanski

Stefanski hinges attorney general campaign on fentanyl crackdown

BY: - April 25, 2023

State Rep. John Stefanski, running to be the “tough on crime” attorney general, wants to put people in prison permanently for fentanyl possession, but critics are concerned his proposal will do more harm than good.  Stefanski’s legislation, House Bill 90, received near-unanimous approval Tuesday from the House Criminal Justice Committee. The bill would send individuals […]

A photo of Stephen Waguespack superimposed on the cover sheet of his campaign finance report

Effort to elect Stephen Waguespack Louisiana governor relies on secret donors

BY: - April 18, 2023

Former business lobbyist Stephen Waguespack and his supporters have touted their ability to raise $3.1 million in just one  month to support his gubernatorial election efforts, but over 43% of that money has come from anonymous donors. The Reboot Louisiana political action committee – which supports Waguespack’s candidacy – collected most of its $1.7 million […]

Voters talk outside a polling place at Edward Hynes Charter School in New Orleans

Tim Temple lends himself $950,000 for insurance commissioner’s race

BY: - April 18, 2023

In a move that might shun other candidates from entering the race, Tim Temple has committed $950,000 of his own money to run for Louisiana insurance commissioner. So far, no one else has declared they will enter the race to replace Jim Donelon, who has announced he will not seek re-election. Temple, a DeRidder native […]

Treasurer John Schroder and his wife, Ellie, line up for a family photo Feb. 9, 2023, after he announced his run for governor at the Fleur de Lis Event Center in Mandeville.

John Schroder spends more than $500,000 on campaign ads for governor

BY: - April 18, 2023

The latest campaign finance reports for candidates in this fall’s governor race shows Treasurer John Schroder, by far, has outspent his competition on advertising, exceeding $500,000 since the start of the year. The large bulk of Schroder’s ad spending — 85% of it — was with television stations in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Another […]

COMMENTARY
A streetcar rolls past a voting precinct in New Orleans.

Louisiana’s down ballot statewide races require voters’ due diligence

BY: - April 14, 2023

There are a few months left before qualifying for this fall’s elections, but the stage appears set for historical turnover among Louisiana’s statewide officials. Out of the seven seats up for grabs, at least five will have new officeholders. Two incumbents have decided not to run for re-election, and two others want to move to […]

Speaker gives Louisiana House day off while asking judge for more redistricting time

Clay Schexnayder announces bid for secretary of state

BY: - April 12, 2023

Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder announced Wednesday that he will run for secretary of state, an office that has become increasingly partisan in how it manages elections. Schexnayder, a Republican from Gonzales, is term-limited from holding his House seat. He said he would uphold and build upon Louisiana’s secure voting system, which has been the […]

Governor hopefuls talk tenure, student retention and more on higher education

BY: - April 7, 2023

Stephen Waguespack thinks it’s time for the woke era of higher education to come to an end.  Waguespack, a Republican candidate for governor, is not the only candidate to express such a view.  His GOP competitor Jeff Landry has not been shy to call out perceived wokeness on college campuses, at times expressing concern that […]

Portable voting trailers in Terrebonne Parish

Ardoin’s package of election bills includes twice-rejected proposals

BY: - April 5, 2023

Louisiana Republicans will try for the third year in a row to enact new election laws, including two that Gov. John Bel Edwards previously blocked.  Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin previewed his legislative package for the 2023 regular session, which begins Monday. The bills would provide “election integrity” for Louisiana, according to Ardoin.   House […]