Statement: Louisiana House Primaries Suspended, Exacerbating Voter Confusion

The solution is clear: go back to the open primary

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v Callais, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced Thursday that he is suspending the state’s U.S. House primaries to allow for the redrawing of congressional maps. The primary election had been scheduled for May 16, with early voting set to begin tomorrow, May 2.

Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano issued the following statement in response:

“The rushed move to close Louisiana’s primaries was already creating chaos and confusion among voters, and this week’s decision to suspend elections only makes it worse. The answer is straightforward: go back to the open primary.”

Background:

• In 2024, the Louisiana legislature passed a law creating separate party primaries for certain races, including U.S. House and Senate contests.
• With limited exceptions, Louisiana has used an open, all-candidate primary system since 1975 — a model that has given voters more choice, increased participation, and ensured broader representation.
• Polling consistently shows Louisiana voters support the open primary system and favor repealing the 2024 law.
• Read more in our Louisiana press memo.

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Unite America is a philanthropic venture fund that invests in nonpartisan election reform to foster a more representative and functional government.

‍For More Information: Ross Sherman, Unite America Press Director, ross@uniteamerica.org, 207-749-2660

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