Louisiana’s “Jungle Primary” Election System: Introduction
This three-part series investigates the unique way in which Louisiana elects many of its officials. Since 1975, Louisiana has used a system commonly referred to as the “jungle primary,” also known as an “open” or “majority vote” primary. Under this system, all eligible candidates appear on the same ballot. If one candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote, then they are elected outright. Otherwise, the top two vote getters advance to a runoff.
Recently, Louisiana’s peculiar election method has again become the subject of debate. In 2024, legislators voted to replace the jungle primary with party primaries for Congress, the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Public Service Commission, and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, to begin in 2026. However, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map in April 2026, state officials suspended the U.S. House primaries, and legislators restored the jungle primary for those races this year. The other affected offices continued under the new rules.
This series begins with an examination of the history behind Louisiana’s unique electoral system, followed by an evaluation of recent changes to the jungle primary and an analysis of the value Louisiana’s experience can bring to the rest of the country.