Louisiana Senate

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards has declared July 10 a Day of Mourning for the late State Senator Larry Selders, who represented District 14 in the Louisiana Senate.

State Sen. Larry Selders of Baton Rouge died unexpectedly on July 7, 2026. He served in the Louisiana Legislature since 2021, representing House District 67 before winning the 14th Senate District seat in 2025. Colleagues described him as a 'gentle giant' and highlighted his work on mental health and children's issues.

Mike Reese is the new president of McNeese State University with a $300,000 annual salary and will continue serving as a Louisiana state senator. His contract includes a car allowance and housing stipend until the presidential residence is repaired. University of Louisiana System President Rick Gallot stated that Reese's dual role is legal under state law.

A Louisiana bill aiming to restrict primary election access to registered Republicans and Democrats failed to pass the state Senate. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Beth Billings, would have allowed party leaders to control primary ballot access for certain offices, potentially excluding no-party voters, who comprise about a third of the state electorate. The bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate, and its sponsor plans to propose an alternative in 2027.

The Louisiana legislature passed a new GOP-favored House map that eliminates one of the state’s Black-majority congressional districts following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared the previous map unconstitutional. The Senate had previously approved new congressional lines, but the House had initially delayed action.

A Louisiana congressional redistricting bill, which aims to eliminate one of the state's majority-Black districts, advanced through the House and Governmental Affairs Committee in a party-line vote. Lawmakers are urged to verify the accuracy of population and voter registration data used to justify the map before final passage, as concerns about racial and partisan impacts persist.

Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry opposes a bill that would allow Democratic and Republican party leaders to exclude unaffiliated voters from their primary elections. The bill, House Bill 906, has passed the House and awaits Senate approval. Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry supports the legislation, citing a technical challenge in 2028.

Julia Letlow advances to Louisiana Senate GOP runoff, while Sen. Bill Cassidy trails in the election. The outcome of the runoff is yet to be determined. Julia Letlow's advancement marks a significant development in the Louisiana Senate race.

NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki analyzes real-time vote tallies from the Louisiana Senate primary race between Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Julia Letlow. The analysis provides a behind-the-scenes look at election night coverage. The primary race is for the Louisiana Senate seat.

A Louisiana bill expands first-degree murder charges and death penalty eligibility after a deadly mall shooting in Baton Rouge. The bill aims to toughen homicide laws, particularly in cases where individuals fire into crowds and kill unintended victims. Lawmakers cited the April 23 shooting at the Mall of Louisiana as justification for the changes.

A Louisiana bill expands first-degree murder charges and death penalty eligibility after a deadly mall shooting in Baton Rouge. The bill broadens first-degree murder charges to include killings in public places where the offender creates a risk of death or great bodily harm to three or more people. Lawmakers cited the attack as justification for toughening the state’s homicide laws.