Louisiana's 5th Congressional District

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District

Incumbent

Julia Letlow

Assumed office: April 14, 2021

Louisiana's 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Julia Letlow (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Louisiana representatives represented an average of 776,911 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 758,994 residents.

Elections

2024

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2024

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5

Incumbent Julia Letlow won election outright against Michael Vallien Jr. and M.V. Mendoza in the primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Julia Letlow (R)	62.9	201,037
		Michael Vallien Jr. (D)	25.9	82,981
		M.V. Mendoza (R)	11.2	35,833

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 319,851
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Dany Kitishian (R)
• Rivule Sykes (G)

2022

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2022

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5

Incumbent Julia Letlow won election outright against Oscar Dantzler, Walter Huff, Allen Guillory Sr., and Hunter Pullen in the primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Julia Letlow (R)	67.6	151,080
		Oscar Dantzler (D)	15.7	35,149
	Submit photo	Walter Huff (D)	8.7	19,383
		Allen Guillory Sr. (R)	5.4	12,159
		Hunter Pullen (R)	2.6	5,782

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 223,553
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2021

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District special election, 2021

A special election to fill the seat representing Louisiana's 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House was held on March 20, 2021. The filing deadline was January 22, 2021. If necessary, a general election was held on April 24, 2021.

The special election filled the vacancy left by Luke Letlow (R), who died on December 29, 2020, from complications related to COVID-19.

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Special nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5

The following candidates ran in the special primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5 on March 20, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Julia Letlow (R)	64.9	67,203
		Candy Christophe (D)	27.3	28,255
		Chad Conerly (R)	5.3	5,497
		Robert Lansden (R)	0.9	929
		Allen Guillory Sr. (R)	0.4	464
	Submit photo	Jim Davis (Independent)	0.4	402
	Submit photo	Sancha Smith (R)	0.3	334
		M.V. Mendoza (Independent)	0.2	236
		Jaycee Magnuson (R)	0.1	131
	Submit photo	Richard Pannell (R)	0.1	67
		Horace Melton (R)	0.1	62
	Submit photo	Errol Victor (R)	0.0	36

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 103,616
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jessica Honsinger Hollister (D)

2020

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2020

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

General election

General election for U.S. House Louisiana District 5

Luke Letlow defeated Lance Harris in the general election for U.S. House Louisiana District 5 on December 5, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Luke Letlow (R)	62.0	49,183
		Lance Harris (R)	38.0	30,124

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 79,307
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Luke Letlow (R)	33.1	102,533
✔		Lance Harris (R)	16.6	51,240
		Candy Christophe (D)	16.4	50,812
		Martin Lemelle (D)	10.4	32,186
	Submit photo	Randall Scott Robinson (R)	7.7	23,887
		Allen Guillory Sr. (R)	7.3	22,496
		Matt Hasty (R)	3.2	9,834
		Phillip Snowden (D)	3.0	9,432
	Submit photo	Jesse Lagarde (D)	2.3	7,136

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 309,556
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Brody Pierrottie (D)
• John Robert Badger (Independent Conservative Democratic Party)

2018

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2018

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5

Incumbent Ralph Abraham won election outright against Jessee Carlton Fleenor, Billy Burkette, and Kyle Randol in the primary for U.S. House Louisiana District 5 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ralph Abraham (R)	66.5	149,018
		Jessee Carlton Fleenor (D)	30.0	67,118
		Billy Burkette (Independent)	2.1	4,799
		Kyle Randol (L)	1.3	3,011

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 223,946
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Ralph Abraham (R) defeated Billy Burkette (R) in the primary election on November 8, 2016.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Primary Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ralph Abraham Incumbent	81.6%	208,545
	Republican	Billy Burkette	18.4%	47,117
Total Votes				255,662
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State

2014

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 5th Congressional District of Louisiana held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014.

Ralph Abraham (R) and Jamie Mayo (D) secured enough votes to participate in a runoff on December 6, 2014. Incumbent Vance McAllister (R) did not receive enough votes to participate in the runoff. Ralph Abraham (R) was ultimately successful.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ralph Abraham	64.2%	134,616
	Democratic	Jamie Mayo	35.8%	75,004
Total Votes				209,620
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Primary Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Vance McAllister Incumbent	11.11%	26,606
	Republican	Ralph Abraham	23.16%	55,489
	Republican	Harris Brown	4.13%	9,890
	Republican	Zach Dasher	22.39%	53,628
	Republican	Clyde Holloway	7.46%	17,877
	Republican	Ed Tarpley Jr.	1.92%	4,594
	Democratic	Jamie Mayo	28.22%	67,611
	Libertarian	Charles Saucier	0.92%	2,201
	Green	Eliot Barron	0.69%	1,655
Total Votes				239,551
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State

• Vance McAllister - Incumbent
• Ed Tarpley: Former Grant Parish District Attorney
• Harris Brown
• Ralph Abraham
• Zach Dasher: Nephew of Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson
• Clyde Holloway
• Jamie Mayo: Mayor of Monroe
• Charles Saucier
• Eliot Barron

Withdrew

• Jeff Guerriero

Failed to file

• Henry Herford, Jr.
• Clay Grant

Rumored candidates

• Robert Johnson: state representative
• Elbert Guillory: state senator

Declined to run

• Neil Riser: state senator
• Chris Hazel: state representative

2013

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District special election, 2013

The 5th Congressional District of Louisiana held a special election for the U.S. House in 2013. The election was held October 19, 2013, with a runoff general election held November 16, 2013.

The special election was held to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Rep. Rodney Alexander (R).

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Runoff General Special Election, 2013
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Vance McAllister	59.6%	54,450
	Republican	Neil Riser	40.4%	36,840
Total Votes				91,290
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, "11/16/2013 Special Election Results,"

2012

See also: Louisiana's 5th Congressional District elections, 2012

The 5th Congressional District of Louisiana held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Rodney Alexander won re-election in the district.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Primary Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rodney Alexander Incumbent	77.8%	202,536
	None	Ron Ceasar	14.4%	37,486
	Libertarian	Clay Steven Grant	7.8%	20,194
Total Votes				260,216
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Rodney Alexander won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Tom Gibbs, Jr. (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rodney Alexander incumbent	78.6%	122,033
	Independent	Tom Gibbs, Jr.	21.4%	33,279
Total Votes				155,312

2008
Alexander ran unopposed to re-election in 2008.

2006
On November 7, 2006, Rodney Alexander won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Gloria Williams Hearn (D), Brent Sanders (L) and John Watts (I) in the primary election.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Primary Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rodney Alexander Incumbent	68.3%	78,211
	Democratic	Gloria Williams Hearn	29%	33,233
	Libertarian	Brent Sanders	1.6%	1,876
	Independent	John Watts	1.1%	1,262
Total Votes				114,582

2004
On November 2, 2004, Rodney Alexander won re-election to the United States House. He defeated John W. "Jock" Scott (R) and Zelma "Tisa" Blakes (D) in the primary election.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Primary Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rodney Alexander Incumbent	59.4%	141,495
	Republican	John W. "Jock" Scott	16%	37,971
	Democratic	Zelma "Tisa" Blakes	24.6%	58,591
Total Votes				238,057

2002
On November 5, 2002, Rodney Alexander won election to the United States House. He defeated Robert J. Barham (R), Lee Fletcher (R), Clyde C. Holloway (R), Sam Houston Melton, Jr. (D) and Vinson Mouser (I) in the primary election.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Primary Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rodney Alexander	37.3%	52,952
	Republican	Robert J. Barham	31.9%	45,278
	Republican	Lee Fletcher	24.3%	34,533
	Republican	Clyde C. Holloway	2.5%	3,581
	Democratic	Sam Houston Melton Jr.	3.2%	4,595
	Independent	Vinson Mouser	0.8%	1,145
Total Votes				142,084

2000
On November 7, 2000, John Cooksey won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Roger Beall (D), Sam Houston Melton, Jr. (D), Raymond A. "Dhuck" Dumas (Other) in the primary election.

U.S. House, Louisiana District 5 Primary Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Cooksey	69.1%	123,975
	Democratic	Roger Beall	23.9%	42,977
	Democratic	Sam Houston Melton, Jr.	4%	7,186
	Independent	Raymond A. "Chuck" Dumas	3%	5,335
Total Votes				179,473

Redistricting

2020-2024

See also: Redistricting in Louisiana after the 2020 census

On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled Louisiana v. Callais for reargument in its next term. In August 2025, the Court scheduled arguments for October 15, 2025.

The Court first heard oral arguments in the case on March 24, 2025. On November 4, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Louisiana v. Callais (formerly Callais v. Landry) consolidated with Robinson v. Callais — two appeals from the U.S. District Court for Western Louisiana decision that struck down the state's new congressional map. The Court noted probable jurisdiction and allotted one hour for oral argument.

On May 15, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an April 30 ruling by the U.S. District Court for Western Louisiana striking down the state's congressional map. As a result, the map was used for Louisiana’s 2024 congressional elections. According to ScotusBlog,

“

In a brief unsigned order the justices blocked a ruling by a federal court that had barred the state from using the new map on the ground that legislators had relied too heavily on race when they drew it earlier this year. The order cited an election doctrine known as the Purcell principle – the idea that courts should not change election rules during the period just before an election because of the confusion that it will cause for voters and the problems that doing so could cause for election officials. The lower court’s order will remain on hold, the court indicated, while an appeal to the Supreme Court moves forward.

”

Gov. Jeff Landry signed the congressional map into law on January 22 after a special legislative session. The state House of Representatives voted 86-16 and the state Senate voted 27-11 to adopt this congressional map on January 19.

According to NPR, "Under the new map, Louisiana's 2nd District, which encompasses much of New Orleans and surrounding areas, will have a Black population of about 53%. Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter represents that district, which has been Louisiana's only majority-Black district for several years. Louisiana's 6th District now stretches from parts of Shreveport to Baton Rouge and will have a Black population of about 56%."

On November 10, 2023, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a 2022 injunction that blocked the implementation of Louisiana’s congressional district maps, for violating the Voting Rights Act by diluting the power of African American voters. The court also issued a deadline for the state to enact new maps for the 2024 election cycle. On November 30, 2023, the U.S. District Court for Middle Louisiana extended the deadline for the creation of new maps that comply with the Voting Rights Act to January 30, 2024. Gov. Jeff Landry called a special session of the Louisiana state legislature on January 15, 2024 — days after he assumed office on January 8 — to draw new maps in compliance with the court's order.

How does redistricting in Louisiana work? In Louisiana, both congressional and state legislative districts are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor. In the event that the legislature is unable to approve state legislative district boundaries, the state supreme court must draw the lines. There is no such practice that applies to congressional districts.

The state legislature has adopted guidelines for redistricting. These guidelines suggest that both congressional and state legislative districts be contiguous and "respect recognized political boundaries and the natural geography of the state to the extent practicable." These guidelines are non-binding; as such, the legislature may alter them at its discretion.

Below are the congressional maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Louisiana’s 2024 congressional elections.

Louisiana District 5
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Louisiana District 5
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 5th Congressional District of Louisiana after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in Louisiana after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Louisiana State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+18. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 18 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Louisiana's 5th the 45th most Republican district nationally.

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+19. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 19 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Louisiana's 5th the 49th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 66.0%-32.3%.

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+17. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 17 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Louisiana's 5th the 65th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 34.4% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 64.1%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+15. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 15 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Louisiana's 5th Congressional District the 82nd most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.91. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.91 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Louisiana
• Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2024
• Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2022
• Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2020
• Louisiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 5

Footnotes

[show]

Louisiana's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Bill Cassidy (R)

John Kennedy (R)

Representatives

District 1

Steve Scalise (R)

District 2

Troy Carter (D)

District 3

Clay Higgins (R)

District 4

Mike Johnson (R)

District 5

Julia Letlow (R)

District 6

Cleo Fields (D)

Republican Party (6)

Democratic Party (2)