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Debate in Louisiana over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Louisiana in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Louisiana

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Louisiana.

  • Governor John Bel Edwards (D) (Office of the Governor): Governor John Bel Edwards announced that he would extend Louisiana's stay at home order through May 15. He cited public health issues and economic problems that could arise if the coronavirus surged in the state.

    "Thanks to the commitment of the people of Louisiana, our state has made progress in flattening the curve and reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Unfortunately, we still have a little work to do before we meet the criteria to safely move to the next phase of reopening, so I will extend the state’s Stay at Home order until May 15, with a few minor changes. While this is not the announcement I want to make, I am hopeful, and all of Louisiana should be hopeful, that we will enter into the next phase of reopening soon, in mid-May. I am anxious to get all areas of our economy reopened, but if we accelerate too quickly, we may have to slam on the brakes. That will be bad for public health and for businesses, bad for our people and bad for our state." - "Gov. Edwards Will Extend Stay at Home Order Until May 15 to Continue Flattening the Curve and Slowing the Spread of COVID-19," April 27, 2020.

  • Senate President Patrick Cortez (R) (VOA News): Senate President Patrick Cortez said Republicans in the legislature felt like Governor Edwards did not properly communicate with them regarding the extension of Louisiana's stay-at-home order.

    "All we have been informed of is very broad brush strokes. That's where my members have a lot of concerns. They don't feel like they've been getting answers when they try to delve deeper into the numbers" - "Edwards Receives Praise From Trump, Complaints from Louisiana Republicans," April 29, 2020.

  • Governor John Bel Edwards (D) (The Center Square): Governor John Bel Edwards said Louisiana did not yet meet federal guidance criteria for loosening social and economic restrictions. He said he thought Louisiana might be ready for the first phase of reopening by May 1.

    "We don’t meet the threshold requirements, although we’re moving in that direction. I think that by the time we get to May the first, we will be in that situation. It really depends on what people do between now and then" - "Louisiana governor and legislators look toward economic recovery from COVID-19 slowdown," April 17, 2020.

  • House Speaker Clay Schexnayder (R) (VOA News): "We're working on every possible solution to safely open our economy as quickly as possible and get our families back to work. One of the ideas is to override the governor's emergency declaration. We're looking into what, if any, unintended consequences that could have." - "Edwards Receives Praise From Trump, Complaints from Louisiana Republicans," April 29, 2020.

  • State Rep. Danny McCormick (R) (The Advocate): "It seems that the true goal of Federal guidelines to mediate the spread of COVID-19 has changed. Originally, our goal was to flatten the curve and protect our most vulnerable citizens. … Our goal has rapidly transformed into the idea that no one should be exposed to or expected to contract COVID-19." - "Dan Fagan: Three Republicans are bold to question coronavirus shutdown. But are they right?," April 14, 2020.

  • State Rep. Mark Wright (R) (The Advocate): "We cannot continue with these drastic measures as unemployment soars and countless small businesses close their doors permanently. Two of our largest sectors, tourism and oil and gas have been wiped out, with little hope in the future. Our state faces an economic abyss that will challenge us for years." - "Dan Fagan: Three Republicans are bold to question coronavirus shutdown. But are they right?," April 14, 2020.

  • State Rep. Richard Nelson (R) (The Advocate): "While initially Draconian restrictions were necessary, they are not a sustainable solution. The economic damage from these restrictions grows exponentially. An economic crisis is coming, and our present condition will soon become unbearable." - "Dan Fagan: Three Republicans are bold to question coronavirus shutdown. But are they right?," April 14, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Louisiana

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Louisiana.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Louisiana

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Louisiana.

  • Pastor Tony Spell, Life Tabernacle Church (CNN): After he was charged with six counts of violating Governor John Bel Edwards’ executive order prohibiting gatherings of over 50 people, Pastor Tony Spell said he did not think he broke any laws and that the First Amendment protected religious gatherings.

    "We will continue to have church. This is a government overreach. They are asking us as a government to stop practicing our freedom of religion. And we have a mandate from God to assemble and to gather together and to keep doing what we're doing." - "Second pastor charged with violating public orders says church doors will still be open on Sunday," March 31, 2020.

  • Central Police Department (Facebook): "Mr. Spell will have his day in court where he will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community. This is not an issue over religious liberty, and it’s not about politics. We are facing a public health crisis and expect our community’s leaders to set a positive example and follow the law." - "Central Police Department on March 31, 2020," March 31, 2020.


Debate over election policy in Louisiana

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Louisiana.

  • U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick (US NEWS & WORLD REPORT): U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick dismissed lawsuits challenging the state's emergency plan for the July presidential primary and local elections.

    "The court rejects plaintiffs' contention that they are being ‘forced to choose’ between their health and voting. ... The potential presence of the virus in their polling place is not a legal impairment of their right; it is an epidemiological reality to which state officials have responded, not by impairing voting rights, but by expanding them." - "Lawsuits Challenging Louisiana Virus Election Plan Dismissed," June 23, 2020.

  • Louisiana ACLU Advocacy Director Chris Kaiser (WDSU News): Louisiana ACLU Advocacy Director Chris Kaiser said the revised emergency election bill did not do enough to protect voters.

    "We're concerned about the constitutional right to vote and protecting that, and we cherish the constitutional right. But as a practical matter, the state -- and the city of New Orleans for that matter -- is at a really economically precarious point our economy is headed for a really serious recession and this is not the moment where we can afford to be clustering more people in person together and risking a resurgence of this virus. We should be taking every precaution we know of to slow the spread and flatten the curve." - "Louisiana's emergency election proposal now restricts mail-in ballots," April 24, 2020.

  • Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin (R) (US News): "This is a great result for Louisiana’s voters and election workers, especially those most susceptible to the COVID-19 virus. Our plan serves as a pragmatic and temporary response to the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging our nation." - "Louisiana Lawmakers Approve Emergency Summer Elections Plan," April 28, 2020.

  • State Rep. Rick Edmonds (R) (US News): "I just voted NO on the Emergency Election Plan. Mail-in voting has a HUGE potential for fraud and could destroy the integrity of our elections" - "Louisiana Lawmakers Approve Emergency Summer Elections Plan," April 28, 2020.

  • State Sen. Barry Milligan (R) (The Advocate): "Anybody could say, ‘Hey, I’m scared to death,’ and they can absentee vote. It seems like we are opening ourselves to more risk and fraud than ever." - "Louisiana Republicans block emergency coronavirus election plan; future of election unclear," April 15, 2020.

  • Governor John Bel Edwards (D) (The Advocate): "Nobody should have to choose between exercising their right to vote and potentially endangering themselves or others." - "Louisiana Republicans block emergency coronavirus election plan; future of election unclear," April 15, 2020.

  • Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin (R) (WAFB Baton Rouge): "Under our comprehensive plan, the election will have the options Louisianans know and trust, as well as the expansion of some features not currently employed on a widespread basis across the state" - "Louisiana Republicans kill emergency election plan; lawmakers have 9 days to compromise," April 15, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Louisiana

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Louisiana)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Louisiana.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
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