How close is the Louisiana Senate race?
The totals for early voting and mail-in ballots in 58 out of 64 parishes, plus Election Day results in more than half of the state’s precincts. Republican Julia Letlow had 56% of the vote and Democrat Jamie Davis had 44%.
But early voting results and many precincts in the state’s urban areas, such as East Baton Rouge Parish and Orleans Parish, had not been reported. Those areas strongly favor Davis.
-9:26 p.m.
Troy Carter wins reelection to House: AP race call
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a New Orleans Democrat, has won reelection in Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district, according to a race call from The Associated Press.
The AP called the race with roughly 32% of votes counted. Carter had 70% of the vote.
-9:13 p.m.
Early vote numbers still not in from Louisiana’s most populous areas
Early voting numbers still have not been fully tallied in many of , including Orleans, East Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Given their high percentages of voters, statewide elections often hinge on results in those parishes.
“Our larger parishes are taking longer for early voting results,†said Louisiana Secretary of State spokesperson Trey Williams.
Williams told reporter Alyse Pfeil to expect the results closer to 10 p.m.
"The ballot is longer because of the number of races, causing it (to take) longer to count the early votes," Williams said.
Two of the state’s population centers have reported early vote counts so far: Caddo Parish and Jefferson Parish.
In those two parishes, Democrat Jamie Davis had strong support in early voting.
In Jefferson, Davis won 62% of the early vote compared to Republican Julia Letlow's 38%.
In Caddo, Democrat Davis won 65% of the early vote compared to Letlow’s 35%.
Overall, 58 of the state’s 64 parishes have reported early voting numbers. Election Day results from slightly more than one third of parishes have been tallied so far.
In those incomplete overall vote counts so far, Letlow leads with 64% compared to Davis with 46%.
-9:08 p.m.
The scene at Jamie Davis’ campaign party
supporters danced to a live band at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center as the polls closed.
A slideshow of photos from the campaign appeared on one side of the room, and a projection of election results rolling showed on the other.
Supporter Kenuatra Flowers told reporter Haley Miller she was voting for Davis “for change†for the state’s Black voters.
“Especially when it comes down to voting and how they redistricted everything,†Flowers said. “It took away the Black voice.â€
“He’s genuine. I think he relates to everyone. He’s just a genuine person and I feel he would be great to get in our Senate.â€
-8:17 p.m.
Details from Julia Letlow’s campaign party
and her supporters are waiting for results to come in at Bayou Pointe on the campus of the University of Louisiana Monroe. Letlow served as a high-level administrator there before being elected in 2021 to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Reporter Tyler Bridges says several hundred people are at the party, including two of her predecessors representing Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, Ralph Abraham and Rodney Alexander. Guests are nibbling on shrimp and watching results on two large TV screens.
-8:17 p.m.
Polls close in Louisiana
It’s 8 p.m. and polls are officially closed.
If you are in line waiting to vote, you can still cast a ballot. As congressional results around the country have started to trickle in, Louisiana vote tallies will soon start becoming public.
-8 p.m.
First look at Mike Johnson’s campaign party
Facing his own reelection campaign, U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson confirmed at his election party tonight that he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, reporter Justin O’Connor confirms.
National polls predict that Republicans will struggle in the midterm elections. Though Johnson’s seat is likely safe, if Republicans lose their house majority, Johnson will lose his role as speaker.
Johnson has
“What I know and believe is that we will hold the House majority, and I’ll be serving as Speaker again,†he said on Oct. 10. “If we didn't, I’m sure most of my colleagues would call upon me to continue to lead, even in the sector of a divided government.â€
-7:42 p.m.
Why were Department of Justice monitors at Louisiana polling places today?
The U.S. Department of Justice sent 1,000 employees to polling stations in every state across the country, including Louisiana. Elections officials in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette confirmed to reporter James Finn that DOJ monitors visited polls in all three cities.
You can
-7:37 p.m.
Last stretch of polls being open
Polls in Louisiana close at 8 p.m., giving voters about 30 more minutes to cast their ballots in this fall’s midterms cycle.
If you are in line by 8 p.m., you can still vote.
Shortly after polls close, the with data from early voting and votes by mail. A historic number of Louisiana voters opted to vote early this election cycle, with roughly 522,000 people casting ballots during that period — breaking records for midterm early voting.
Check back throughout the night for updates.
-7:30 p.m.
How has voting gone on Election Day in Louisiana?
On Election Day in Louisiana, the most closely watched race has pitted U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, a Republican from Baton Rouge, against farmer Jamie Davis, a Democrat from Tensas Parish.
Late polling in the race showed the contest tightening up after early predictions of a Letlow landslide. National polls have looked lackluster for Republicans, with and the Iran war.
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office predicted 1.65 million people would vote in the midterm elections in the state.
Voters across the state also weighed in on 10 constitutional amendments. Many voters also faced contests for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Louisiana Public Service Commission and a bevy of local races for judges, school boards, law enforcement officials and more.
-7:30 p.m.