# Louisiana's 5th congressional district

Louisiana's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The 5th district encompasses rural northeastern Louisiana and much of central Louisiana, as well as the northern part of Louisiana's Florida parishes in southeastern Louisiana, taking in Monroe, Alexandria, Amite and Bogalusa.
In 2013, six-term Representative Rodney Alexander resigned to take a state cabinet post; in the special election, Republican newcomer Vance McAllister, a businessman from Swartz, Louisiana, handily defeated fellow Republican State Senator Neil Riser of Columbia in Caldwell Parish to claim the seat in a special election. McAllister beat Riser, 54,449 (59.7) to 36,837 (40.3 percent).
Analysts considered McAllister's victory as a rejection of Governor Bobby Jindal's efforts to have the seat vacated and to replace Alexander with his hand-picked candidate in a low-turnout special election. The runoff turnout was less than 19%, three percent less than in the primary.
In 2014, Ralph Abraham defeated Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo for the 113th United States Congress, replacing McAllister, who was defeated in the Louisiana primary. On February 26, 2020, Abraham announced he would not be seeking re-election for a fourth term, honoring his pledge to only serve three terms in Congress.
The district is currently represented by Republican Julia Letlow, who was elected in a 2021 special election to replace her husband, representative-elect Luke, who died of COVID-19 days before he was set to be sworn in.
As part of the 2024 map redistricting, the 5th loses Lincoln, Jackson, Winn, Grant, Rapides, and half of Ouachita Parishes to the 4th district, and also Pointe Coupee and half of Avoyelles Parish to the new 6th; in exchange, 5th gains parts of East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes. The new territory includes two of the state's largest universities, Louisiana State (LSU) in Baton Rouge and Southeastern Louisiana (SLU) in Hammond.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 66% - 32% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 66% - 34% |
| 2014 | Senate | Cassidy 64% - 36% |
| 2015 | Governor | Bel Edwards 53% - 47% |
| 2015 | Lt. Governor | Nungesser 56% - 44% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 66% - 31% |
| 2016 | Senate | Kennedy 69% - 31% |
| 2019 | Governor | Rispone 54% - 46% |
| 2019 | Lt. Governor | Nungesser 74% - 26% |
| 2019 | Attorney General | Landry 73% - 27% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 66% - 32% |
| 2023 | Attorney General | Murrill 73% - 27% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 67% - 31% |

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | Location |
| District created March 4, 1863 ||||||
| Vacant | Vacant | March 4, 1863 – July 18, 1868 | 38th 39th 40th | Civil War and Reconstruction | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| W. Jasper Blackburn (Homer) | Republican | July 18, 1868 – March 3, 1869 | 40th | Elected to finish the vacant term. Retired to run for Lieutenant Governor. | |
| Frank Morey (Monroe) | Republican | March 4, 1869 – June 8, 1876 | 41st 42nd 43rd 44th | Elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Lost contested election. | |
| William B. Spencer (Vidalia) | Democratic | June 8, 1876 – January 8, 1877 | 44th | Won contested election. Retired and resigned to become associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 8, 1877 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | | |
| John E. Leonard (Lake Providence) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 15, 1878 | 45th | Elected in 1876. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 15, 1878 – November 5, 1878 | 45th | | |
| J. Smith Young (Homer) | Democratic | November 5, 1878 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Elected to finish Leonard's term. Retired. | |
| J. Floyd King (Vidalia) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1887 | 46th 47th 48th 49th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Lost renomination. | |
| Cherubusco Newton (Bastrop) | Democratic | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 | 50th | Elected in 1886. Lost renomination. | |
| Charles J. Boatner (Monroe) | Democratic | March 4, 1889 – March 20, 1896 | 51st 52nd 53rd 54th | Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. House declared seat vacant after election was contested by Alexis Benoit. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 20, 1896 – June 10, 1896 | 54th | | |
| Charles J. Boatner (Monroe) | Democratic | June 10, 1896 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected to finish his own term. Retired. | |
| Samuel T. Baird (Bastrop) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – April 22, 1899 | 55th 56th | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 22, 1899 – August 29, 1899 | 56th | | |
| Joseph E. Ransdell (Lake Providence) | Democratic | August 29, 1899 – March 3, 1913 | 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd | Elected to finish Baird's term. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| James Walter Elder (Monroe) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | Elected in 1912. Lost renomination. | |
| Riley J. Wilson (Ruston) | Democratic | March 4, 1915 – January 3, 1937 | 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th | Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Lost renomination. | |
| Newt V. Mills (Monroe) | Democratic | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1943 | 75th 76th 77th | Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Lost renomination. | |
| Charles E. McKenzie (Monroe) | Democratic | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | 78th 79th | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Lost renomination. | |
| Otto Passman (Monroe) | Democratic | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1977 | 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th | Elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Lost renomination. | |
| Jerry Huckaby (Ringgold) | Democratic | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Lost re-election. | |
| Jim McCrery (Shreveport) | Republican | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1997 | 103rd 104th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Redistricted to the 4th district. | |
| John Cooksey (Monroe) | Republican | January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 | 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| Rodney Alexander (Quitman) | Democratic | January 3, 2003 – August 9, 2004 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Resigned to become Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. | 2003–2013 |
| Rodney Alexander (Quitman) | Republican | August 9, 2004 – September 26, 2013 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Resigned to become Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. | 2003–2013 |
| Rodney Alexander (Quitman) | Republican | August 9, 2004 – September 26, 2013 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Resigned to become Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. | 2013–2023 |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 26, 2013 – November 16, 2013 | 113th | | 2013–2023 |
| Vance McAllister (Swartz) | Republican | November 16, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | 113th | Elected to finish Alexander's term. Lost re-nomination. | 2013–2023 |
| Ralph Abraham (Alto) | Republican | January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2021 | 114th 115th 116th | Elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired. | 2013–2023 |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 3, 2021 – April 14, 2021 | 117th | Representative-elect Luke Letlow died December 29, 2020. | 2013–2023 |
| Julia Letlow (Start) | Republican | April 14, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish her husband's term. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Julia Letlow (Start) | Republican | April 14, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish her husband's term. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–2025 |
| Julia Letlow (Start) | Republican | April 14, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish her husband's term. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2025–present |

## Recent election results
### 2002

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Runoff Election (2002) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rodney Alexander (Incumbent) | 86,718 | 50.28 |
| | Republican | Lee Fletcher | 85,744 | 49.72 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 172,462 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2004) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rodney Alexander (Incumbent) | 141,495 | 59.44 |
| | Democratic | Zelma "Tisa" Blakes | 58,591 | 24.61 |
| | Republican | John W. "Jock" Scott | 37,971 | 15.95 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 238,057 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
* NOTE: Rodney Alexander switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party.

### 2006

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2006) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rodney Alexander (incumbent) | 78,211 | 68.26 |
| | Democratic | Gloria Williams Hearn | 33,233 | 29.00 |
| | Libertarian | Brent Sanders | 1,876 | 1.64 |
| | Independent | John Watts | 1,262 | 1.10 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 114,582 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2008) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rodney Alexander (incumbent) | | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2010) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rodney Alexander (incumbent) | 122,033 | 78.57 |
| | Independent | Tom Gibbs Jr. | 33,279 | 21.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 155,312 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rodney Alexander (incumbent) | 202,536 | 77.83 |
| | No Party | "Ron" Ceasar | 37,486 | 14.41 |
| | Libertarian | Clay Steven Grant | 20,194 | 7.76 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 260,216 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2013 (special)

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Special Election (2013) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Vance McAllister | 54,449 | 59.65 |
| | Republican | Neil Riser | 36,837 | 40.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 91,286 | 18.9 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jamie Mayo | 67,611 | 28.22 |
| | Republican | Ralph Abraham | 54,449 | 22.73 |
| | Republican | "Zach" Dasher | 53,628 | 22.39 |
| | Republican | Vance M. McAllister | 26,606 | 11.11 |
| | Republican | Clyde C. Holloway | 17,877 | 7.46 |
| | Republican | Harris Brown | 9,890 | 4.13 |
| | Republican | "Ed" Tarpley | 4,594 | 1.92 |
| | Libertarian | Charles Saucier | 2,201 | 0.92 |
| | Green | Eliot S. Barron | 1,655 | 0.69 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 239,551 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.6 |
Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2014 Runoff) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Abraham | 134,616 | 64.22 |
| | Democratic | Jamie Mayo | 75,006 | 35.78 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 209,622 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.2 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2016 Primary) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Abraham | 208,545 | 81.57 |
| | Republican | Billy Burkette | 47,117 | 18.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 255,662 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 66.8 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2018 Primary) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Abraham | 149,018 | 66.54 |
| | Democratic | Jessee Carlton Fleenor | 67,118 | 29.97 |
| | Independent | Billy Burkette | 4,799 | 2.14 |
| | Libertarian | Kyle Randol | 3,011 | 1.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 223,946 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2020 Primary) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Luke Letlow | 102,533 | 33.12 |
| | Republican | Lance Harris | 51,240 | 16.55 |
| | Democratic | Sandra "Candy" Shoemaker-Christophe | 50,812 | 16.41 |
| | Democratic | Martin Lemelle Jr. | 32,186 | 10.40 |
| | Republican | Scotty Robinson | 23,887 | 7.72 |
| | Republican | Allen Guillory Sr. | 22,496 | 7.27 |
| | Republican | Matt Hasty | 9,834 | 3.18 |
| | Democratic | Phillip Snowden | 9,432 | 3.05 |
| | Democratic | Jesse P. Lagarde | 7,136 | 2.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 309,556 | 100.0 |
Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2020 Runoff) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Luke Letlow | 49,182 | 62.02 |
| | Republican | Lance Harris | 30,124 | 37.98 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,306 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2021 (special)

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Special Election (2021) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julia Letlow | 67,203 | 64.86 |
| | Democratic | Sandra "Candy" Christophe | 28,255 | 27.27 |
| | Republican | Chad Conerly | 5,497 | 5.31 |
| | Republican | Robert Lansden | 929 | 0.90 |
| | Republican | Allen Guillory | 464 | 0.45 |
| | No party preference | Jim Davis | 402 | 0.39 |
| | Republican | Sancha Smith | 334 | 0.32 |
| | Republican | M.V. "Vinny" Mendoza | 236 | 0.23 |
| | Independent | Jaycee Magnuson | 131 | 0.13 |
| | Republican | Richard H. Pannell | 67 | 0.06 |
| | Republican | Horace Melton III | 62 | 0.06 |
| | Republican | Errol Victor Sr. | 36 | 0.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 103,616 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District Election (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julia Letlow (incumbent) | 151,080 | 67.6 |
| | Democratic | Oscar "Omar" Dantzler | 35,149 | 15.7 |
| | Democratic | Walter Earl Huff | 19,383 | 8.7 |
| | Republican | Allen Guillory | 12,159 | 5.4 |
| | Republican | Hunter Pullen | 5,782 | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 223,553 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |