Higgins Wins Third District Race Outright
U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins defeated five challengers in Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District election held November 3.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican U.S. Representative Clay Higgins defeated five challengers in Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District on November 3. Results remain unofficial until certified by the Secretary of State's Office.
Why it matters
Higgins will serve a sixth term in the House, extending his tenure representing the district. Runoffs for the neighboring 4th Congressional District are scheduled for December 12, where Speaker Mike Johnson faces four challengers.
Louisiana's open primary sends the top two candidates to a runoff if no one exceeds 50% of the vote. Official certification of the 3rd District results by the Secretary of State's Office is still pending.
The players
Clay Higgins
Clay Higgins is a Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana who has served in the House and is seeking a sixth term.
Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson is a Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana who was named House Speaker in 2023 and is serving his fifth term.
The details
Polls closed at 8 p.m. on November 3, and the results were reported from Lake Charles. The 4th Congressional District, held by Mike Johnson, will proceed to a December 12 runoff because no candidate was confirmed as exceeding the 50% threshold in the extraction.
Timeline
2023: Mike Johnson was named House Speaker.
November 3, 2026: Election held; polls closed at 8 p.m.
December 12, 2026: Scheduled runoff elections in the 4th District.
January 1, 2027: Elected officials take office.
Season Trajectory
Louisiana's open primary system, which advances the top two candidates to a runoff when no one tops 50%, shapes how these congressional contests unfold. The November 3 results in the 3rd District follow that structure, while the 4th District's December 12 runoff continues it.
Louisiana voters in the 4th District will return to the polls December 12 if no candidate cleared the 50% threshold. Results from the 3rd District are unofficial until the Secretary of State certifies them.
The takeaway
Election results are unofficial until certified, so readers should watch for the Secretary of State's final count before treating outcomes as settled. The December 12 runoff in the 4th District could still change the state's congressional delegation.
What happens next
Runoff elections for the 4th Congressional District will be held December 12, and elected officials take office January 1.
Further reading
For more on how these races are decided, explore Elections coverage across Louisiana.
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