Louisiana Votes in 5th District House Race
Voters in Louisiana's 5th Congressional District went to the polls to choose a new U.S. House representative, with a runoff expected in December.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you think things are getting better in your area, under the current Congress?
Louisiana voters went to the polls on November 3, 2026, to elect a U.S. House representative for the 5th Congressional District. The race, with nine candidates, is likely to head to a runoff in December 2026.
Why it matters
The seat was vacated by Julia Letlow, who left her post after two and a half terms to run for U.S. Senate with President Donald Trump's endorsement. The outcome determines who will represent the district's 22 parishes in Congress.
Nine candidates, six Republicans and three Democrats, sought the seat covering 22 parishes in the 5th Congressional District. Vote totals were not available, and the race is expected to proceed to a December runoff.
The players
Julia Letlow
Former U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District, who left the seat after two and a half terms to run for U.S. Senate.
Donald Trump
President of the United States, who endorsed Julia Letlow in her Senate campaign.
The details
Louisiana voters cast ballots on November 3, 2026, for the open 5th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House. Julia Letlow's departure created the vacancy as she pursued a Senate bid backed by President Donald Trump.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Voters went to the polls for the 5th District House election.
December 2026: A runoff election is likely for the 5th District House seat.
Election Context
Louisiana's 5th District, spanning 22 parishes in the state's rural and southeastern regions, is an open-seat contest after Julia Letlow's move to the Senate race. The December runoff format continues Louisiana's use of runoffs when no candidate clears the threshold in the initial vote.
Residents of the 5th District's 22 parishes will not have a representative in the House until the seat is filled, which may depend on the December runoff. Voters should watch for the runoff date and candidate list.
The takeaway
Louisiana's 5th District race is heading toward a December runoff, so the final representative may not be known until then. Voters tracking the seat should monitor official election announcements for runoff dates.
What happens next
A runoff election is expected in December 2026 to decide the 5th District House seat.
Further reading
For more on how the state runs its races, see Louisiana Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WDSU News.
Live Poll
Do you think things are getting better in your area, under the current Congress?
