2015 Louisiana elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Louisiana on October 24, 2015.[1] All of Louisiana's executive officers, and both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature were up for election. Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates appeared on the same ballot, regardless of party and voters voted for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote during the primary election, a runoff election was held on November 21, 2015 between the top two candidates in the primary.[2][1] Louisiana is the only state that has a jungle primary system (California and Washington have a similar "top two primary" system).

Elections in Louisiana
Government

Governor
Main article: 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Governor Bobby Jindal was term-limited and unable to run for re-election to a third term in office.

Lieutenant Governor
Main article: 2015 Louisiana lieutenant gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne did not run for re-election to a second full term in office. He instead ran for governor.[3]

Attorney General

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Buddy Caldwell ran for re-election to a third term in office,[4] but was defeated by Jeff Landry.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Tom Schedler won re-election to a second full term in office.[5]

Chris Tyson, a law professor at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at the Louisiana State University and son of former Judge Ralph E. Tyson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, ran for the Democrats.[6]

State Treasurer

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy won re-election to a fifth term in office.[7] Republican Jennifer Treadway, a lawyer from Baton Rouge, challenged him.

Had Kennedy not chosen run for re-election, potential Republican candidates included Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives Chuck Kleckley;[8] Dan Kyle, former Louisiana Legislative Auditor, candidate for Louisiana Insurance Commissioner in 2003 and candidate for Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish in 2008; Jude Melville, President and CEO of Business First Bank and nephew of former Governor of Louisiana Buddy Roemer; Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, former state representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002; John Schroder, state representative; and Jim Tucker, former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives and candidate for Secretary of State of Louisiana in 2011.[9]

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Michael G. Strain won re-election to a third term in office.[10]

Democrat Jamie LaBranche, an arborist and horticulturist who lost in the jungle primary in 2011, ran for the office again.

Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon won re-election to a third full term in office.

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Jim
Donelon (R)		 Matt
Parker (R)		 Undecided
Triumph March 5, 2015 1,655 ± 2.4% 45% 13% 41%

Louisiana State Senate

All 39 seats in the Louisiana State Senate were up for election. The Republican party currently holds 26 seats, while the Democratic party holds the remaining 13.[11] 7 of the current senators are term limited and could not run for re-election.[12]

Louisiana House of Representatives

All 105 seats in the Louisiana House of Representatives were up for election. The Republican party currently holds 58 seats and the Democratic party 44 seats. 2 seats are held by independents and the remaining seat is vacant.[13] 14 of the current representatives are term-limited and could not run for re-election.[14]

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References
  1. "2015 ELECTIONS" (pdf). Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. "How are Candidates Elected?". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  3. "Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne 'intends' to run for governor in 2015". The Times-Picayune. March 20, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  4. "Contenders emerge in race for top attorney". St. Charles Herald Guide. July 24, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  5. Michelle Millhollon (March 4, 2014). "Schedler draws competition". The Advocate. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  6. Alex Deiro (February 19, 2014). "Newcomer looks to take on Secretary of State in 2015 election". NBC33. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  7. Julia O'Donoghue (April 9, 2015). "State Treasurer John Kennedy will seek reelection, not run for governor or attorney general". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. Julia O'Donoghue (December 31, 2014). "Chuck Kleckley is considering a run for Louisiana State Treasurer". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  9. Jeremy Alford (December 15, 2014). "State Treasurer Considering Leap to Attorney General". The Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  10. "Ag commissioner Mike Strain says he won't run for Louisiana governor". Shreveport Times. July 1, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  11. "Louisiana State Senate - Senate Membership Statistics". Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  12. "Louisiana State Senate - Term Limits". Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  13. "Members by Party". Louisiana House of Representatives. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  14. "2012-2016 Term". Louisiana House of Representatives. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
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