LAST UPDATED: November 7, 2023 (11:00am)
Nonpartisan primaries were held on Saturday in Louisiana. Candidates who received more than 50% of the vote won the election outright, while the top two vote-getters in the remaining contests will advance to a November 18th general election. Full context about women in the 2023 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, is available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.
Among the most notable results for women:
- Women are poised to win two of Louisiana’s seven statewide elective executive offices this year. Currently, no women hold these offices in the state.
- Two women have advanced to the November 18th general elections for secretary of state and attorney general. No woman has ever served as Louisiana’s attorney general, and no woman has served as secretary of state since 1930.
- Based on the nonpartisan primary election results, women are 5 of 40 (12.5%) candidates who have won their election outright or advanced to the November 18th general election for state Senate in Louisiana, including 2 of 11 (18.2%) Democrats and 3 of 29 (10.3%) Republicans. This falls short of the record high for women state Senate nominees (10), set in election 2019.
- Based on the nonpartisan primary election results, women are 37 of 122 (30.3%) candidates who have won their election outright or advanced to the November 18th general election for state House in Louisiana, including 15 of 40 (37.5%) Democrats and 22 of 82 (26.8%) Republicans. This exceeds the record high for women state House nominees (27), set in election 2019.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
Women currently hold 0 of 7 statewide elective executive offices in Louisiana. In 2023, 6 (2D, 4R) women filed as candidates for four statewide elective executive offices. All statewide elective executive offices in Louisiana are up for election this year. No women have filed as major-party candidates for treasurer, commissioner of agriculture and forestry, and commissioner of insurance.
Based on the nonpartisan primary election results, women are 4 of 10 (40%) candidates who have won their election outright or advanced to the November 18th general election for statewide elective executive offices in Louisiana, including 2 of 3 (66.7%) Democrats and 2 of 7 (28.6%) Republicans. Of those candidates, zero women have won the election outright by securing more than 50% of the vote.
- 2 (1D, 1R) women have advanced to the open-seat general election for secretary of state, all but assuring that a woman will win the office. No woman has served as Louisiana’s secretary of state since 1930.
- 2 (1D, 1R) women have advanced to the open-seat general election for attorney general, all but assuring that a woman will win the office. Either candidate – Lindsey Cheek (D) or Liz Baker Murrill (R) – would be the first woman to serve as Louisiana’s attorney general.
State Senate
Women currently hold 5 (2D, 3R) of 39 seats in the Louisiana State Senate. In 2023, 11 (8D, 3R) women, including 4 (2D, 2R) incumbents, filed as candidates for state Senate. All Senate seats are up for election this year.
Based on the nonpartisan primary election results, women are 5 of 40 (12.5%) candidates who have won their election outright or advanced to the November 18th general election for state Senate in Louisiana, including 2 of 11 (18.2%) Democrats and 3 of 29 (10.3%) Republicans. Of those candidates, all 5 (2D, 3R) women have won the election outright by securing more than 50% of the vote or because they were unopposed (1D, 1R). This falls short of the record high for women state Senate nominees (10), set in election 2019. In 2023, 6 (6D) women candidates for state Senate were unsuccessful.
- 4 (2D, 2R) women incumbents have won re-election. No women incumbents were defeated.
- No women have advanced to challenge incumbents in November.
- 1 (1R) woman won an open-seat state Senate contest.
State House
Women currently hold 23 (9D, 14R) of 105 seats in the Louisiana House of Representatives. In 2023, 50 (21D, 29R) women, including 21 (9D, 12R) incumbents, filed as candidates for state House of Representatives. All House seats are up for election this year.
Based on the nonpartisan primary election results, women are 37 of 122 (30.3%) candidates who have won their election outright or advanced to the November 18th general election for state House in Louisiana, including 15 of 40 (37.5%) Democrats and 22 of 82 (26.8%) Republicans. Of those candidates, 21 (8D, 13R) women have won the election outright by securing more than 50% of the vote or because they were unopposed (7D, 7R). This exceeds the record high for women state House nominees (27), set in election 2019. In 2023, 13 (6D, 7R) women candidates for state House were unsuccessful.
- 21 (9D, 12R) women incumbents have won their election outright or advanced to the November general election. Of those incumbents, 18 (8D, 10R) have already won re-election and 3 (1D, 2R) have advanced to the general election. No women incumbents were defeated.
- 2 (1D, 1R) women have advanced to challenge incumbents in November.
- 14 (5D, 9R) women have won their election outright or advanced to the November general election in open-seat contests. Of those open-seat candidates, 3 (3R) have already won their House seats and 11 (5D, 6R) have advanced to the general election in open-seat House contests.
For full information about women in the 2023 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, see CAWP’s Election Watch.
