BATON ROUGE — Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry today said that voting for the May 16 elections will proceed, with early voting beginning on Saturday, May 2.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Louisiana’s current U.S. House District maps are an unconstitutional gerrymander and their use in the upcoming Congressional elections would violate law.
“Pursuant to 18:401.1(B), I have certified the emergency in light of the Supreme Court ruling. This is a mandatory step prior to the Governor issuing an executive order suspending the upcoming Louisiana U.S. House races. All other races on the ballot, besides the U.S. House races, will continue as scheduled, with early voting beginning on Saturday,” Secretary Landry said.
“Our office will post notices at each of the early voting sites to alert the public of this change. While the U.S. House races will remain on voters’ ballots, any votes cast in those races will not be counted.”
Here are some statements about this:
Here's a joint statement from State Senate President Cameron Henry and State House Speaker Phillip Devillier:
The Governor and the Attorney General have advised that the U.S. Supreme Court decision this week bars Louisiana from enforcing the current Louisiana congressional election maps. We are prepared as a Legislature to address under the law what is necessary both to bring our congressional district maps in line with the Supreme Court’s decision and to provide under the law for the election dates and procedures necessary to hold elections in those U.S. House races this year. We believe that we have the bills available in the current session to accomplish that work within the remaining month of our regular legislative session. We want to stress to voters, as the Secretary of State has advised, that it is only the six Louisiana U.S. House seats whose races are being suspended at this time. All other races and ballot measures will continue as scheduled on the election dates currently scheduled. We urge voters to continue to make their plans to vote in all other races or matters on the ballot on the election dates currently scheduled.
Here's what Gov. Jeff Landry released:
Governor Jeff Landry issued an executive order suspending Louisiana’s closed party primary elections only for offices of U.S. Representative in response to the recent decision by the United States Supreme Court in Louisiana v. Callais. EO attached.
“The best way to end race-based discrimination is to stop making decisions based on race,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Here in Louisiana, we’re proud to lead the nation on this charge. Allowing elections to proceed under an unconstitutional map would undermine the integrity of our system and violate the rights of our voters. This executive order ensures we uphold the rule of law while giving the Legislature the time it needs to pass a fair and lawful congressional map. I would like to thank Attorney General Liz Murrill for her hard work throughout this process”
The ruling issued on April 29 found Louisiana’s current congressional district map, enacted under SB 8 during the 2024 First Extraordinary Session, to be an unconstitutional gerrymander. The decision effectively reinstates a lower court injunction prohibiting the state from conducting congressional elections under the invalidated map.
As a result, the state’s closed party primary elections for U.S. House seats, previously scheduled for May 16, 2026, and the second primary set for June 27, 2026, are suspended. Early voting for the May election was set to begin May 2. Other offices and ballot measures scheduled for May 16 will continue as planned. This suspension will only apply to the U.S. House races.
This executive order follows certification from the Louisiana Secretary of State that an electoral emergency exists, as provided under R.S. 18:401.1. The statute authorizes the governor to suspend or delay elections to protect voter safety, participation, and the integrity of the process.
From The Urban League of Louisiana:
Nothing in the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais requires halting an election that is already underway. This abrupt move injects confusion into our primary elections, undermines public confidence, and risks disenfranchising voters across the state. At best, Governor Landry's decision reflects poor judgment. At worst, it advances a broader pattern of actions designed to consolidate power within Louisiana’s current supermajority at the expense of fair and representative democracy. Louisianans deserve clarity, stability, and a system that respects their right to vote; Not last-minute disruptions that create chaos and suppress participation. Suspending an election midstream does exactly that.
We urge residents across the state to remain focused and resolute: Contact the Governor, the Attorney General, and your legislators to demand a transparent, lawful path forward and congressional maps that fairly reflect Louisiana’s people. Prepare to vote in record numbers whenever elections proceed because sustained civic engagement is the strongest response to uncertainty and obstruction. Louisiana’s democracy should not hinge on confusion or convenience. It must be grounded in fairness, access, and the full participation of all its people.
From 10,000 Women Louisiana:
10,000 Women Louisiana is calling out Governor Jeff Landry for actions that threaten to destabilize Louisiana’s election process and undermine voter confidence statewide. The recent ruling in Callais v. Louisiana may have opened the door to congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 election but that does not make last-minute disruption appropriate, ethical, or justifiable. Voters have already begun participating in the election process, with early voting scheduled for May 2–9 and the primary set for May 16. Intervening at this stage risks widespread confusion and jeopardizes the integrity of the entire ballot, including races for U.S. Senate, Congress, judicial seats, constitutional amendments, and local offices.
Melissa Flournoy, Board Chair of 10,000 Women Louisiana, stated: “The Governor has flipped the table on Louisiana voters. Throwing a wrench into the election process at the last minute is reckless and undermines trust in our democracy. The Secretary of State must stand up and protect the sanctity of Louisiana’s elections.”
This move comes amid heightened political tensions during the current legislative session, including controversial actions affecting local governance. Against that backdrop, 10,000 Women Louisiana views the Governor’s actions as part of a broader pattern of political maneuvering that risks eroding democratic norms.
Alfreda Tilman Bester, Vice-Chair of 10,000 Women Louisiana and former General Counsel for the NAACP, said: “Governor Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill are among the most divisive figures in our state’s modern history. Their actions contribute to a coordinated erosion of voting rights for Louisiana citizens.”
10,000 Women Louisiana continues its commitment to civic engagement through its co-sponsorship of the “To the People, For the People” Democratic Roadshow, a statewide series of events designed to inform voters and increase participation. Upcoming stops include Monroe, Houma, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Hammond, Covington, and New Orleans.
Bester added: “Louisiana is not a red state or a blue state—it is a nonvoting state. Efforts to mark hundreds of thousands of voters as inactive, combined with last-minute election disruptions, make participation harder, not easier. Our leaders should be expanding access, not restricting it.”
Flournoy emphasized the broader historical context: “Louisiana has a long history of voter suppression through the Jim Crow era. In the 21st century, we should be moving forward not back. These actions disrespect voters and threaten the integrity of our election system.”
10,000 Women Louisiana and its partners across the advocacy community are committed to defending fair elections and protecting the rights of all voters. “We will stand up and fight back,” Flournoy said. “We call on all people of good faith and courage to join us in protecting democracy and ensuring representative government in Louisiana.”
From Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill:
"The United States Supreme Court’s ruling effectively revives the district court’s original injunction against SB 8. We will continue to work with Governor Landry and members of the Legislature to adopt new dates and a constitutional map." - Attorney General Liz Murrill
Read the executive order here [t.e2ma.net].
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy issued this statement:
"Louisiana voters have an important choice to make about who will represent them in the U.S. Senate for the next six years. The governor’s decision to move ahead with the Senate race during a confusing time is disappointing. Now, it’s up to all of us to help people understand what’s happening and make sure voters know how to cast their votes over the next two weeks."
