A new poll from JMC Analytics indicates there is still minimal support for changing Louisiana’s elections to a closed primary. In the first special session, lawmakers voted to move Congressional, PSC, BESE and Supreme Court elections to a closed primary starting in 2026. Pollster John Couvillon says he surveyed 660 likely voters and 48 percent of them did not even know it was changed.
“I suspect there are going to be a lot of surprised people when the time comes in the spring of 2026 when people go vote in the primaries and they’re told that they can’t participate in that Democrat-Republican primary any more.”
This is the second time JMC Analytics has polled Louisiana voters to get their thoughts on closed primaries. He says the first survey took place in December and based on the results of this latest poll, closed primaries have become less popular in Louisiana…
“In the previous poll it was 54 to 20 negative. That 54 to 20 number has widened to 60 to 15 and have actually lost some of whatever popularity that it had.”
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the new election system will cost the state an additional 135-million dollars over ten years. Couvillon says when the respondents heard the cost of a party primary system, 72-percent said they oppose switching from open primaries.
“The 135 million dollar cost over the ten years were tested and very minimal popularity.”
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