Cao Wins Louisiana BESE District 1 Seat
Republican Joseph Cao captured the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education seat vacated by Paul Hollis in the November 3, 2026 election.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Republican Joseph Cao defeated Democrat Angela Hershey to win the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) District 1 seat, taking 64% of the vote. Cao had already been serving as interim representative after Gov. Jeff Landry appointed him following Paul Hollis's departure.
Why it matters
Hollis stepped down after President Donald Trump named him director of the U.S. Mint, leaving an unfinished term that runs until January 2028. Cao's win gives him the seat on a permanent basis, though he would have to run again next year to keep it through that term.
Cao took 64% of the District 1 vote in the November 3, 2026 election, which covers parts of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes. The source does not report total vote counts or Cao's plans beyond the unfinished term.
The players
Joseph Cao
Cao is a Republican from Harvey who previously represented Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District and was the only Republican to vote for the Affordable Care Act.
Paul Hollis
Hollis is the former BESE District 1 member from Mandeville who stepped down after being named director of the U.S. Mint by President Donald Trump.
Angela Hershey
Hershey is the Democratic candidate from Madisonville who lost the District 1 race to Cao.
Jeff Landry
Landry is the Louisiana governor who appointed Cao as interim District 1 representative after Hollis's departure.
The details
Gov. Jeff Landry appointed Cao as interim District 1 representative in December after Hollis stepped down. Cao defeated Democrat Angela Hershey of Madisonville, and his win follows his 2008 victory over 18-year incumbent William Jefferson in the 2nd Congressional District.
Timeline
2008: Cao won the 2nd Congressional District seat, ousting William Jefferson.
December 2025: Hollis stepped down and Landry appointed Cao as interim representative.
November 3, 2026: Cao won the BESE District 1 election.
January 2028: Hollis's unfinished term is scheduled to end.
Political Context
Cao's 2008 upset of 18-year incumbent William Jefferson in the 2nd Congressional District set the template for his return to Louisiana politics. The BESE win extends that record, and the source notes that a Republican had not won the 2nd District in about 180 years before Cao.
Voters in District 1 now have a representative on the state education board chosen in the November 2026 election rather than an appointee. Because the seat runs only until January 2028, Cao's position depends on winning again in 2027.
The takeaway
A single board seat can change hands quickly when an appointed placeholder runs in the next election. Readers tracking Louisiana education policy should watch the 2027 contest for District 1.
What happens next
Cao will have to run again in 2027 to keep the District 1 seat through the term that ends in January 2028.
Further reading
For more on how these races are decided, browse Louisiana Elections coverage.
