Hillar Moore Wins East Baton Rouge DA Race

Moore is projected to win a six-year term after defeating Democrat Ryan Thompson in the first contested district attorney election in nearly two decades.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Economist-geometric illustration of a plain civic building facade in deep red and cream beneath a live oak, evoking the county courthouse setting of a local prosecutor race. — Hillar Moore is projected to win a six-year term as East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney, defeating Democrat Ryan Thompson in the first contested race in nearly two decades. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust your local district attorney's office to keep your community safe?

Hillar Moore is projected to win the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney race, defeating Democrat Ryan Thompson, a former assistant public defender. The election was held Tuesday, November 3, and was the first contested race for the office in nearly two decades.

Why it matters

The winner oversees criminal prosecutions in the 19th Judicial District, shaping how local cases are handled for the next six years. The race was also marked by a dispute over a missing campaign finance report that led to a state ethics fee and Moore's refusal to debate.

Moore was first elected in 2008 with approximately 74% of the vote and ran unopposed in 2014 and 2020, while Thompson was assessed a $2,500 late fee by the Louisiana Board of Ethics for failing to file a campaign finance report by August 5. Final vote totals and margin were not available in the source material.

The players

Hillar Moore

Hillar Moore is the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney who was first elected in 2008 and has led the office since taking office in 2009.

Ryan Thompson

Ryan Thompson is a Democrat and former assistant public defender who challenged Moore in the district attorney race.

Louisiana Board of Ethics

The Louisiana Board of Ethics is the state body that assessed Thompson a $2,500 late fee for failing to file a required campaign finance report.

The details

Moore, who took office in 2009, cited Thompson's missing campaign finance report as the reason he declined to debate him. Moore's office has established the TRUCE violence-reduction program and the Stop the Loss initiative.

2008: Moore first elected district attorney, defeating Dan Claitor.
2009: Moore took office as district attorney.
August 5: Deadline for Thompson's required campaign finance report.
September: Ethics board assessed Thompson a $2,500 late fee.
November 3: Election held; Moore projected to win.

Political Context

Moore's 2026 contest is the first contested East Baton Rouge district attorney race since his 2008 win over Dan Claitor, when he took about 74% of the vote. Thompson's challenge revived a contest that had gone uncontested in 2014 and 2020, and the missing-report dispute and refused debate shaped the race's campaign conduct.

The winner will oversee criminal prosecutions in the 19th Judicial District for a six-year term, directly shaping how cases in East Baton Rouge Parish are charged and handled. Residents affected by the district attorney's programs, including TRUCE and Stop the Loss, will see that office's priorities continue under the next term.

The takeaway

Local prosecutorial leadership carries multi-year consequences, so following who runs the district attorney's office and how its programs perform is a practical way to stay informed about criminal justice in your parish.