# 2026 United States Senate election in Louisiana

Elections in Louisiana :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1812
1816
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1812
1813
1813 sp
1817
1818
1818 sp
1819
1823
1824
1824 sp
1825
1829
1831
1831 sp
1833 sp
1835
1836 sp
1837
1837 sp
1840
1843
1844 sp
1847
1847 sp
1848
1852
1853
1853 sp
1859
1868
1876
1876 sp
1879
1882
1889
1891
1894
1894 sp
1896
1900
1904
1908
1910 sp
1912
1914
1918
1918 sp
1920
1924
1926
1930
1932
1936
1936 sp
1938
1942
1944
1948
1948 sp
1950
1954
1956
1960
1962
1966
1968
1972
1974
1978
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1996
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
2028
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1812
1814
1816
1818
AL sp
1820
1822
1824
1826
1828
1830
1832
1834
1st sp
3rd sp
1836
1838
1840
3rd sp
1843
1844
4th sp
1847
1849
1850
2nd sp
3rd sp
1851
1853
1855
1857
1859
1868
1870
1872
4th sp
1873
4th sp
1874
1876
1878
5th sp
1880
1882
1884
1886
2nd sp
1887
6th sp
1888
1889
3rd sp
1890
1892
1894
4th sp
1896
5th sp
1898
1899
5th sp
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1st sp
1909
2nd sp
1910
2nd sp
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
2nd sp
1926
1927
7th sp
1928
1929
3rd sp
1930
1931
8th sp
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
3rd sp
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1961
4th sp
1962
1964
4th sp
1965
7th sp
1966
1968
1970
1972
7th sp
1973
2nd sp
1974
1975
6th sp
1976
1977
1st sp
1978
1980
3rd sp
1982
1984
1985
8th sp
1986
1988
4th sp
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
1999
1st sp
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
1st sp
6th sp
2010
2012
2013
5th sp
2014
2016
2018
2020
2021
2nd sp
5th sp
2022
2024 :
State government
General elections
2007
2010
2011
2015
2019
2020
2023
Gubernatorial elections
1812
1816
1820
1824
1828
1830 sp
1834
1838
1842
1846
1849
1852
1855
1859
1863 (C)
1864 (U)
1865
1868
1872
1876
1879
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023
2027
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections
2011
2015
2019
2023
Attorney General elections
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023
Treasurer elections
2017 sp
State Senate elections
2019
2023
House of Representatives elections
2023 :
Ballot measures
2004
Amendment 1 :
Baton Rouge
Mayoral elections
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024 :
New Orleans
Mayoral elections
1866
1930
1934
1946
1950
1958
1962
1965
1969
1973
1977
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2017
2021
2025
City Council elections
2006
2010 :
Shreveport
Mayoral elections
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022 :
Government :
vte :
The 2026 United States Senate election in Louisiana will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Louisiana. Incumbent Republican senator Bill Cassidy, who was re-elected in 2020, is running for re-election to a third term. Cassidy's vocal opposition to president Donald Trump has led to a primary challenge against him.
Following the enactment of House Bill 17 in 2024, this will be the first U.S. Senate election in Louisiana to utilize party primaries, in March, instead of a single blanket primary since 2010.

## Background
### 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 significant notoriety within the Republican Party for being a vocal critic of president Donald Trump. He denounced the storming of the U.S. Capitol and accused the participants of sedition, while voting to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump and his supporters have attempted to overturn. Cassidy was one of seven Senate Republicans to later vote to convict Trump of incitement of insurrection during his second impeachment trial, for which the Republican Party of Louisiana publicly censured him. Additionally, during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, Cassidy made numerous public statements denouncing his candidacy and calling for his withdrawal, particularly in reference to Trump's four criminal indictments.
Cassidy's outspoken opposition to President Trump and his policies has led political analysts to believe him vulnerable to a primary challenge from the right wing of the party. Early speculation of potential candidates included Clay Higgins, a Congressman and law enforcement officer who has gained popularity among Republicans for his far-right positions and support of Trump.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Bill Cassidy, incumbent U.S. senator
* John Fleming, Louisiana State Treasurer, former U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 4th congressional district, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016

#### Publicly expressed interest

* Clay Higgins, U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district
* Blake Miguez, state senator
* Eric Skrmetta, member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission from the 1st district (decision expected in the 1st half of 2025)

#### Potential

* Garret Graves, former U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 6th congressional district
* Mike Strain, Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner

### Endorsements

Individuals
* Drew Brees, former New Orleans Saints player
* Eddie Rispone, member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee
U.S. representatives
* Paul Gosar, U.S. representative from Arizona's 9th congressional district (2011–present)
* Scott Perry, U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district (2013–present)
* Marlin Stutzman, U.S. representative from Indiana's 3rd congressional district (2010–2017, 2025–present)
State legislators
* Roger Wilder, state representative from the 71st district (2024–present)

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bill Cassidy | John Fleming | Undecided |
| JMC Analytics & Polling | February 24–26, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 27% | 40% | 33% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bill Cassidy | John Fleming | Blake Miguez | Eric Skrmetta | Undecided |
| JMC Analytics & Polling | February 24–26, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 27% | 29% | 6% | 2% | 36% |

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Inside Elections | Solid R | January 17, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report | Solid R | February 11, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | February 13, 2025 |