The debate over moving to closed-party primary elections versus the current open process in Louisiana is being met with opposition. But Brent Littlefield, longtime political advisor to Governor Jeff Landry, said there’s a campaign underway to confuse lawmakers and the public about the issue.
“It’s only fair that Republicans get to choose a Republican candidate and Democrats get to choose a Democratic candidate. That is a fair way to go and that’s why Governor Landry supports this idea,” said Littlefield.
JMC Analytics and Polling estimates a change would cost the state an extra $90 million annually. Littlefield said such numbers are speculative and exaggerated…
“Until the bill is introduced and until there’s a fiscal note attached to it. We don’t know what the cost is, so it’s disappointing that those people that are being paid to put out that information, and even the news media that is covering it are using figures that are completely pie in the sky,” said Littlefield.
With the transition, politically unaffiliated voters would only be able to vote in the general election and not the primary. Those against say voters who aren’t registered with a political party would be disenfranchised. Littlefield said that’s a false talking point.
“To claim that anybody, including independent no-party voters, would be disenfranchised that’s like saying they’re disenfranchised when you vote for president because you’ve had close primaries for decades in Louisiana for the presidential election,” said Littlefield.
During next week’s redistricting session for both the congressional and judicial maps, Littlefield said legislation for closed-party primary elections will be introduced.
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