A special session is likely later in October to discuss pushing back the qualifying and party primary dates for the 2026 federal election. The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments next week about Louisiana’s Congressional map, which has two majority minority districts. Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman Caleb Kleinpeter says if the court rules after qualifying in January that the state needs to draw a new map, Louisiana would be stuck with the current one for two more years.
“If we don’t address it, and the Supreme Court comes back in February and says the map is unconstitutional and we’re changing this with the Voting Rights Act, we wouldn’t look too good to our constituents,” Kleinpeter said.
Qualifying to participate in the Republican and Democratic Party primaries for next year’s federal elections is scheduled for January 14th to the 16th. The party primary is scheduled for April 18th, and a run-off would take place May 30th. Kleinpeter says they would like to move these dates back.
“We’re going to go ahead and push back the closed primary and work with the Secretary of State on some dates,” Kleinpeter said.
There has been talk about redrawing the Congressional district map, but Kleinpeter says they will wait for the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the current map.
“Instead of us going in and drawing a map, contingent on the Supreme Court, we decided to address what we really need to address right now, the closed primary qualifying dates,” Kleinpeter said.
Kleinpeter expects the special session will only last a few days and this would be the only major item voted on.
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