Change of electoral system In January 2024, governor
Jeff Landry signed House Bill 17, sponsored by representative
Julie Emerson, which eliminated the top-two
Louisiana primary system in favor of partisan primaries in elections for
Congress, the
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the
Public Service Commission, and the
Supreme Court. Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primaries, but not members of other parties, including the
Independent Party of Louisiana. The bill also indicated the use of
runoff elections if no candidate receives a majority in their respective primary. The law is to take effect beginning with the 2026 elections, making this election the first in which Louisiana will elect a U.S. senator using this system since
2010; the top-two primary was first implemented in congressional elections in
1978.
Primary challenge to Cassidy Senator
Bill Cassidy, who has held this seat since 2015, has gained notoriety within the Republican Party for his vocal criticism of
President Donald Trump. Cassidy denounced the
January 6 U.S. Capitol attack, accused participants of
sedition, and voted to certify the
2020 election results. He was one of seven Senate Republicans to vote to convict Trump for incitement of
insurrection during
his second impeachment trial, prompting the
Republican Party of Louisiana to
censure him. During
Trump's 2024 campaign, Cassidy publicly opposed his candidacy, citing Trump's
four criminal indictments. Cassidy's stance has led analysts to view him as vulnerable to a right-wing
primary challenge. Early speculation included Congressman
Clay Higgins, a supporter of Trump, who ultimately declined to run. ==Republican primary==