Lafayette residents cast ballots Saturday in Louisianas first closed primary election in more than two decades, deciding a U.S. Senate race, five constitutional amendments and a critical library funding measure rejecting all five amendments and the library millage.
Nearly 40000 voters turned out in Lafayette Parish, where the library millage renewal drew particular local attention. Voters denied the renewal 56 to 44, jeopardizing approximately 9 million dollars in annual revenue that funds 58 of the Lafayette Public Library Systems budget. The current millage is set to expire at the end of 2026. Library officials may bring the measure back before voters in December for one final opportunity at renewal. The system is currently designing a new branch on the Holy Rosary campus on Lafayettes Northside.
U.S. Senate
In the Republican Senate primary, Rep. Julia Letlow of Monroe led the field with 45 of the vote, with former Rep. John Fleming finishing second at 28. Incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy finished third with only 24 votes, while Letlow and Fleming secured spots in the June 27 runoff. On the Democratic side, Jamie Davis and Nick Albares will face off in their own runoff the same day, with the two party winners meeting in the November general election.
Congressional candidates also appeared on ballots, but those votes will not be counted due to an ongoing redistricting process stemming from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down race based district maps.
Constitutional Amendments
Louisiana voters rejected all five proposed constitutional amendments on Saturday.
The most lopsided defeat came on Amendment 1, which would have allowed the Legislature to strip state jobs of civil service protections without commission approval 78 of voters opposed it. Amendment 5, which would have raised the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 70 to 75, was turned down by a similar margin of 76.
Amendment 4, which would have allowed parishes to voluntarily eliminate the states inventory tax in exchange for a one time lump sum payment from the state, failed with 66 opposition. Louisiana remains among only a handful of states that still levy such a tax.
Amendment 2, which would have created a separate St. George Community School District from the East Baton Rouge Parish School District, was rejected by voters both statewide and within East Baton Rouge Parish itself.
The narrowest outcome came on Amendment 3, which would have dissolved three educational trust funds to pay down teacher retirement debt and fund 2250 dollar raises for public school teachers. The measure still fell short, with 42 in favor.
Whats Next
Early voting for the June 27 Senate runoffs opens June 12 and closes June 20. Voters registered with no party affiliation who participated in the May primary will be bound to the party ballot they selected for the runoff, though they may vote freely across party lines in the November general election.
