By Greg LaRose | Editor-in-Chief
Amid a “blue tsunami” that gave Democrats control of Congress, Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race ended with Republicans still holding both U.S. Senate seats. The GOP is also likely to claim five of the state’s six U.S. House seats, and Republicans added to their majority on the Public Service Commission. Yet the results were still historic for the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate who put Gov. Jeff Landry on notice ahead of his re-election bid next year.
U.S. Sen.-elect Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, speaks to supporters Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at the University of Louisiana at Monroe after narrowly defeating Democrat Jamie Davis. (Photo by Julia O’Donoghue/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Team Illuminator
Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow survived a closer-than-expected challenge from Democrat Jamie Davis to claim Louisiana’s open seat in the U.S. Senate. The Associated Press did not call the race for Letlow until 99% of votes had been counted. She prevailed with 50.9% support to Davis 49.1%.
U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise raised more than $11 million and spent $12.4 million in his 2026 re-election campaign, according to Federal Election Commission numbers. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Greg LaRose
The four sitting members of Congress from Louisiana successfully fended off longshot challengers in Tuesday’s election, setting up the strong likelihood that the state will add a fifth Republican for its six U.S. House seats. Yet U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, will have to cede control after spending millions from their campaigns to prevent Democrats from gaining the majority of seats in their chamber and the U.S. Senate.
A row of energy transmission towers carries electricity along a highway outside of LaPlace, on July 1, 2024. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)
By Greg LaRose
Democrats are losing the District 5 seat covering North Louisiana that they have held since 1974 when it was created in a revised Louisiana Constitution, which expanded the Public Service Commission from three to five districts.
By Greg LaRose
State election records dating back to 1982 show Louisiana voters have faced 10 amendments or more on a single ballot 11 times, including a record 18 proposals in October 1998. A total of 139 amendments were put up for consideration in these elections, and you might be surprised at how many were approved.
By Kevin Hardy
The historic victories were called early during Tuesday’s high-stakes midterm elections, when Democrats hoped to claw back state power from Republicans, who have controlled a majority of governorships and state legislatures for the last 16 years.
ELECTION 2026
Mississippi US Senate race remains too close to call | Mississippi Today
Democrats seize power in Texas, ending decades of GOP dominance | Texas Tribune
El-Sayed declares victory in Michigan, storms into US Senate | Michigan Advance
Thanks for reading Morning Look. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.