Julia Letlow narrowly wins Louisiana Senate seat
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Reps. Julia Letlow, who won her Senate race Tuesday, and Steve Scalise at a campaign event. Photo: Wayan Barre/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Julia Letlow, a Republican serving her third term in the U.S. House, was elected Louisiana's newest senator, the AP projected.
Why it matters: Letlow's victory, once viewed as an easy GOP win, came down to the wire after her opponent, Tensas Parish farmer Jamie Davis, ran a lively, grassroots campaign.
The big picture: While some Republicans distanced themselves from President Trump this cycle, Letlow embraced his endorsement and thanked him for his support Tuesday night.
- Meanwhile, Davis energized Louisiana Democrats despite receiving little attention or financial support from the national party.
- Democrats outnumbered Republicans in early voting, and Black voters accounted for one of their highest shares of early ballots in recent years.
Zoom in: Letlow will be the state's first Republican woman to serve as senator.
The intrigue: The close race raises questions about whether national Democrats missed an opportunity in Louisiana even while flipping Senate and House seats elsewhere.
- "This was a bad night for [Gov.] Jeff Landry," WWL political commentator Clancy DuBos said Tuesday night. Endorsements from Landry and Trump "should have gotten [Letlow] 60% of the vote against an unknown Black Democrat."
Meanwhile, the AP projected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R) would easily keep their seats. However, as the balance of power shifts to Democrats, their influence will change in January.
- Rep. Troy Carter (D) was also reelected for his fourth term, the AP projected. He reportedly looks to lead the Congressional Black Caucus next term.
- Elsewhere in the state, the AP projected a win for Rep. Clay Higgins, but voters in Districts 5 and 6 will be back for December runoffs.
Statewide, voters also weighed in on 10 constitutional amendments, approving most, according to preliminary Secretary of State data.
- Approvals include a ban on post-conviction bail for people convicted of certain aggravated crimes against children, lifetime term limits for governor and the use of public money to replace lead water lines.
Go deeper: Voters made additional selections for judgeships across New Orleans, regional Public Service Commission and Board of Education races, plus other local matters. See the full results from Election Day from the Secretary of State's Office.
- New Orleans voters also approved a home charter amendment to increase City Council oversight on the budget. Here's what it means.