A Louisiana measure that will create closed primary elections for federal elective offices, state Supreme Court justices and members of two state boards has been signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry.
During a special session that concluded last week, state lawmakers approved House Bill 17, sponsored by Rep. Julie Emerson (R-Carencro), which modifies the “jungle primary” system Louisianans have been voting under for decades. The measure provides for closed primary elections for members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Public Service Commission, in addition to the judicial and federal offices.
The passage of HB 17 comes in the wake of a survey by pollster John Couvillon showing the state’s jungle primary has wide public support. The survey by JMC Analytics, which was conducted in December, found that 65% of voters like being able to fill out ballots with candidates of all parties listed.
Under the jungle primary system, the two highest vote-getters for each office – regardless of party affiliation – advance to the general election unless one candidate wins outright with a majority of the vote. But under the closed-primary modification approved last week, voters will only be able to select candidates for the selected offices who are affiliated with their own party.
The bill also provides that voters not affiliated with any political party may vote in one party’s primary for the offices identified by HB 17.
“In terms of closed primaries, it’s been a goal for many that gained traction under the leadership of Gov. Landry, and now was the time to act,” Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier said in a prepared statement.
Robert Collins, a professor of urban studies and public policy at Dillard University, noted that the bill on the governor’s desk won’t apply to key statewide races, such as governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, attorney general and insurance commissioner.
“It was a compromise more in favor of the Legislature than the governor,” Collins told the Louisiana Record. “... A lot of things the governor wanted got removed from the bill.”
Closed primaries tend to protect incumbents, especially conservative incumbents, he said. The electoral reform won’t bring major political changes to Louisiana, according to Collins, but the changes could lead to more efforts by conservative candidates to oust moderate Republicans in primaries.
“There was a deal cut between Sen. (John) Kennedy and the governor that independents would still be able to vote in those closed primaries,” he said. “They could choose which primary they wanted to vote in.”
Independent voters probably won’t be too happy with the primary election modifications, according to Collins. The open primary system has been in effect since the 1970s.
“Over one-third of the electorate is independent,” he said. “Independents are never going to like a closed primary system because it gives them fewer choices.”
Landry signed HB 17 into law on Monday.
“The outcome of this special session is a win for the people of Louisiana,” the governor said. “We started the process of necessary structural change to our election system, allowing for a cleaner and simpler final ballot. …”
The measure allows the designated closed primaries to take place beginning in March 2026.