U.S. Senator
presidential
Election name2016 United States Senate election in Louisiana
CountryLouisiana
Ongoingno
Previous election2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana
Previous year2010
Election dateNovember 8, 2016 (first round)
December 10, 2016 (runoff)
Next election2022 United States Senate election in Louisiana
Next year2022
1blankFirst round
2blankRunoff
Candidate 1John Kennedy
Party 1Republican Party (United States)
1data 1482,591
24.96%
2data 1536,191
60.65%
Candidate 2Foster Campbell
Party 2Democratic Party (United States)
1data 2337,833
17.47%
2data 2347,816
39.35%
Candidate 3Charles Boustany
Party 3Republican Party (United States)
1data 3298,008
15.41%
2data 3Eliminated
Candidate 4Caroline Fayard
Party 4Democratic Party (United States)
1data 4240,917
12.46%
2data 4Eliminated
Candidate 5John Fleming
Party 5Republican Party (United States)
1data 5204,026
10.55%
2data 5Eliminated
Before electionDavid Vitter
Before partyRepublican Party (United States)
After electionJohn Kennedy
After partyRepublican Party (United States)
Turnout67.8% (first round) 29.0% (runoff)

The 2016 United States Senate election in Louisiana took place on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Louisiana, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

Under Louisiana's "jungle primary" system, all candidates appeared on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters could vote for any candidate. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote during the primary election, a runoff election was held on December 10[1] between the top two candidates in the primary, Republican John Neely Kennedy and Democrat Foster Campbell, where Kennedy won with 60.65% of the vote, giving Senate Republicans 52 seats in the 115th Congress. Louisiana is the only state that has a jungle primary system (California and Washington have a similar "top two primary" system). Kennedy had previously unsuccessfully ran for this seat in 2004 as a Democrat and the state's other U.S. Senate seat in 2008 as a Republican.

Incumbent Republican Senator David Vitter unsuccessfully ran for governor of Louisiana in 2015,[2] and in his concession speech he announced that he would not seek re-election to the Senate in 2016.[3]

In addition to Kennedy and Campbell, four other candidates — Republicans Charles Boustany, John Fleming, and David Duke, and Democrat Caroline Fayard — qualified to participate at a debate at Dillard University, a historically black college, on November 2, 2016[4][5] This election is the most recent United States Senate runoff election in Louisiana as of 2024.

Candidates

Republican Party

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Democratic Party

Declared

Declined

Libertarian Party

Declared

Independents

Declared

Jungle primary

Debates

DatesLocationKennedyCampbellBoustanyFayardFlemingDukeLink
October 18, 2016Ruston, LouisianaParticipantParticipantParticipantParticipantParticipantNot invited[67]
November 2, 2016New Orleans, LouisianaParticipantParticipantParticipantParticipantParticipantParticipant[68]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Charles
Boustany (R)		Foster
Campbell (D)		David
Duke (R)		Caroline
Fayard (D)		John
Fleming (R)		John
Kennedy (R)		Rob
Maness (R)		OtherUndecided
SurveyMonkey[69]November 1–7, 2016982± 4.6%14%13%3%21%12%21%6%4%[a]6%
SurveyMonkey[70]October 31 – November 6, 2016840± 4.6%15%14%3%20%11%21%6%5%[b]5%
SurveyMonkey[71]October 28 – November 3, 2016646± 4.6%15%14%3%19%11%21%5%4%[c]8%
SurveyMonkey[72]October 27 – November 2, 2016546± 4.6%13%13%3%21%12%21%5%4%[d]8%
SurveyMonkey[73]October 26 – November 1, 2016470± 4.6%13%13%2%21%12%23%4%3%[e]9%
Southern Media and Opinion Research[74]October 19–21, 2016500± 4.4%14%16%—12%9%22%——27%
The Times-Picayune/Lucid[75]October 15–21, 2016614± 3.0%12%17%4%12%10%18%4%7%[f]17%
University of New Orleans[76]October 15–21, 2016603± 4.0%15%15%2%10%11%22%4%9%[g]12%
FOX 8/Mason-Dixon[77]October 20, 2016625± 4.0%11%19%5%12%10%24%3%3%[h]13%
Market Research Insight[78]October 17–19, 2016600± 4.0%16%14%—12%7%17%——34%
JMC Analytics (R)[79]October 11–15, 2016800± 3.5%16%25%3%10%16%16%3%2%10%
JMC Analytics (R)[80]September 22–24, 2016905± 3.3%15%15%3%12%14%11%4%1%25%
Market Research Insight[78]September 17–19, 2016600± 4.0%12%10%—11%10%18%——39%
Southern Media and Opinion Research[81]September 15–17, 2016500± 4.4%15%9%3%11%8%17%3%7%[i]26%
Anzalone Liszt Grove Research (D)[82]August 29 – September 1, 2016605± 4.0%13%7%3%13%6%18%4%5%[j]31%
The Hayride/Remington Research[83]August 29–30, 20161,017± 3.2%13%16%6%12%6%27%4%—15%
GBA Strategies[84]June 6–9, 2016500± 4.4%11%15%—14%9%30%6%12%[k]2%
Anzalone Liszt Grove Research[85]May 31 – June 2, 2016600± 4.0%11%14%—9%7%24%3%–33%
Southern Media and Opinion Research[86]May 19–23, 2016500± 4.4%10%9%—4%5%32%4%3%[l]32%
SurveyUSA[87]March 4–8, 2016600± 4.1%10%12%—10%7%21%6%12%[m]15%
Southern Media and Opinion Research[88]February 2–4, 2016500± 4.4%10%7%—4%6%22%7%—30%
SurveyUSA[89]December 4–7, 2015600± 4.1%10%23%—–6%21%9%—19%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Scott
Angelle (R)		Charles
Boustany (R)		John
Fleming (R)		John
Kennedy (R)		Mitch
Landrieu (D)		Undecided
MRI[90]December 2–4, 2015600± 4.1%24%15%5%15%30%11%
NSO Research (R-Kennedy)[91]January 10–13, 2014600± 4%–13%7%18%39%23%

Runoff

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		John
Kennedy (R)		Foster
Campbell (D)		Undecided
University of New Orleans[92]December 6, 2016776± 4.9%62%33%5%
Trafalgar Group (R)[93]December 5–6, 20162,500± 2.0%56%40%4%
Emerson College[94]November 29–30, 2016400± 4.9%51%33%16%
Southern Media and Opinion Research[95]November 28–30, 2016500± 4.4%52%38%10%
Tulane University[96]November 8–18, 2016820± 3.0%60%40%0%
Trafalgar Group (R)[97]November 14–17, 20162,200± 2.1%58%35%6%
The Hayride/Remington Research[83]August 29–30, 20161,017± 3.2%51%27%22%
SurveyUSA[98]March 4–8, 2016600± 4.1%54%34%12%
Poll
source		Date(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		John
Neely
Kennedy (R)		Caroline
Fayard (D)		Undecided
Anzalone Liszt Grove Research[99]August 29–September 1, 2016605± 4.0%49%38%13%
SurveyUSA[87]March 4–8, 2016600± 4.1%54%34%12%
Poll
source		Date(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		David
Duke (R)		Caroline
Fayard (D)		Undecided
Anzalone Liszt Grove Research[99]August 29–September 1, 2016605± 4.0%15%64%21%
Poll
source		Date(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Charles
Boustany (R)		John
Neely
Kennedy (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA[87]March 4–8, 2016600± 4.1%22%50%27%
Poll
source		Date(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Charles
Boustany (R)		Caroline
Fayard (D)		Undecided
Anzalone Liszt Grove Research[99]August 29–September 1, 2016605± 4.0%40%43%17%

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[100]November 2, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball[101]November 7, 2016
Rothenberg Political Report[102]November 3, 2016
Daily Kos[103]November 8, 2016
Real Clear Politics[104]November 7, 2016

Results

Parishes that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Parishes that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Kennedy won five of six congressional districts.[105]

DistrictKennedyCampbellRepresentative
75%25%Steve Scalise
24%76%Cedric Richmond
72%28%Clay Higgins
62%38%Mike Johnson
65%35%Ralph Abraham
66%34%Garret Graves

References

Additional candidates

  1. ^ Joshua Pellerin (D) with 4%
  2. ^ Joshua Pellerin (D) with 5%
  3. ^ Joshua Pellerin (D) with 4%
  4. ^ Joshua Pellerin (D) with 4%
  5. ^ Joshua Pellerin (D) with 3%
  6. ^ "Others" with 5% and Joseph Cao (R) with 2%
  7. ^ "Others" with 7%, Joseph Cao (R) with 1% and Abhay Patel (R) with 1%
  8. ^ "Others" with 2%, Derrick Edwards (D) with 1%, Gary Landrieu (D), Vinny Mendoza (D), Joshua Pellerin (D), and Peter Williams (D) all with 0%
  9. ^ "Others", Joseph Cao (R), and Peter Williams (D) each with 2% and Troy Hebert (I) with 1%
  10. ^ Troy Hebert (I) with 3%, Peter Williams (D) and "Others" each with 1%
  11. ^ Troy Hebert (I) with 7%, Joseph Cao (R) with 3%, and Peter Williams (D) 2%
  12. ^ Troy Hebert (I) with 2% and Eric Skrmetta (R) with 1%
  13. ^ Troy Hebert (I) with 5%, Joseph Cao (R) with 4%, and Peter Williams (D) with 3%
  1. ^ "Get Election Information". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  2. ^ "John Bel Edwards beats David Vitter to become Louisiana's next governor". The Times-Picayune. November 21, 2015. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  3. ^ O'Donoghue, Julia (November 21, 2015). "David Vitter won't run for his U.S. Senate seat again". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  4. ^ "David Duke qualifies for televised Senate debate at historically black college". Fox News. October 24, 2016.
  5. ^ "David Duke qualifies for Louisiana Senate debate". Politico
  6. ^ Barfield Berry, Deborah (November 23, 2015). "Rep. Charles Boustany will run for Senate". Shreveport Times. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  7. ^ Burgess, Richard (December 14, 2015). "Boustany, saying he 'refuses to peddle the politics of fear, obstruction, division,' announces run for David Vitter's U.S. Senate seat". The Advocate. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Rainey, Richard (December 16, 2015). "Joseph Cao enters Senate race for Vitter's seat, tells supporters by email". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  9. ^ Rainey, Richard (March 1, 2016). "Joseph Cao officially enters race for David Vitter's Senate seat". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  10. ^ Hilburn, Greg (July 21, 2016). "UPDATE: Senate field swells to 21, most on record for race". The News-Star. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Hilburn, Greg (July 22, 2016). "Former Klansman David Duke enters U.S. Senate race". The News-Star. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  12. ^ "David Duke, Former KKK Leader, Announces Senate Run". NBC News. July 22, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  13. ^ "Former KKK leader David Duke runs for U.S. Senate: 'My time has come'". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  14. ^ O'Donoghue, Julia (December 7, 2015). "Louisiana Congressman John Fleming launches bid for David Vitter's Senate seat". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  15. ^ Rainey, Richard (January 26, 2016). "Treasurer John Kennedy enters Senate race to succeed David Vitter". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  16. ^ Rainey, Richard (January 25, 2016). "Congress takes some snow days; Maness makes it official: Louisiana politics". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  17. ^ Alford, Jeremy (March 23, 2016). "New names still hover over Senate race". The Independent. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  18. ^ Patel, Abhay (May 3, 2016). "It's official, my hat is in the ring for US Senate 2016". Retrieved May 9, 2016. – via Facebook.
  19. ^ Rainey, Richard (October 20, 2016). "Louisiana Senate race: Abhay Patel drops out, endorses Charles Boustany". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  20. ^ Hilburn, Greg (November 3, 2015). "Angelle could be eyeing Senate seat". The News-Star. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  21. ^ Ballard, Mark (December 14, 2015). "Scott Angelle looks at U.S. Senate race, will [sic] his decision after holidays". The Advocate. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  22. ^ Stickney, Ken (March 3, 2016). "Angelle jumps into 3rd District race". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  23. ^ Yokley, Eli (November 22, 2015). "After Vitter's Loss, Louisiana Republicans Eye His Senate Seat". Roll Call. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  24. ^ O'Donoghue, Julia (November 25, 2015). "Jay Dardenne says he may join John Bel Edwards' administration in podcast interview". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  25. ^ Alford, Jeremy (December 22, 2015). "More possibilities surface for Louisiana's US Senate race". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  26. ^ Alford, Jeremy (November 25, 2015). "Attention turns to 2016 ballot; Boustany lands sub-chair in D.C.". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  27. ^ Hilburn, Greg (March 1, 2016). "Republican Brett Geymann will run for 3rd District seat". The News-Star. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  28. ^ Dickerson, Seth (May 5, 2016). "Clay Higgins says he may run for public office". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
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  31. ^ Tidmore, Christopher (May 9, 2016). "In Red Louisiana, can two Democrats make runoff for Vitter's Senate". The Louisiana Weekly. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  32. ^ ".@TimmyTeepell says Bobby Jindal unequivocally has no interest in running for U.S. Senate.". No. 666769766170816513. November 17, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  33. ^ Alford, Jeremy (February 2, 2015). "Vance McAllister for U.S. Senate?". LaPolitics. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  34. ^ Jaffe, Alexandra (January 22, 2014). "Christian leader open to Senate run". The Hill. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  35. ^ Roarty, Alex & Yoakley, Eli (February 26, 2016). "Tony Perkins to Endorse John Fleming in Louisiana Senate Race". Roll Call. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  36. ^ "The Senate Field Increases, As Eric Skrmetta Now Dips A Toe Into The Water". Louisiana Hayride. December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  37. ^ "News roundup: Oil-related layoffs mount with two new WARNs ... Skrmetta decides against US Senate run ... Tiger Band inks deal with firm founded by two of its own". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. July 5, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  38. ^ Tidmore, Christopher (December 7, 2015). "Young, Cazayoux and Hebert consider Vitter's U.S. Senate seat". The Louisiana Weekly. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  39. ^ Crisp, Elizabeth (February 26, 2016). "Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell running for the U.S. Senate". The Advocate. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  40. ^ Crisp, Elizabeth (February 4, 2016). "Democrat Caroline Fayard launches U.S. Senate bid". The Advocate. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
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  42. ^ "vinnymendoza.com". Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  43. ^ Stickney, Ken (January 25, 2016). "Pellerin to explore Senate campaign". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  44. ^ Stickney, Ken (February 24, 2016). "Seeking Senate seat: Pellerin will run". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  45. ^ Stickney, Ken (March 28, 2016). "Pellerin announcement comes April 5". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
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  47. ^ Wyman, Hastings (February 8, 2016). "Louisiana gearing up for Senate race". Southern Political Report. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  48. ^ Riegel, Stephanie (June 8, 2016). "Three years after leaving The Shaw Group, Jim Bernhard has created a private equity firm that could outgrow the company he sold for $3 billion". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  49. ^ Drusch, Andrea (December 4, 2015). "Mitch Landrieu Rules Out Senate Bid". National Journal. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
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  51. ^ Alford, Jeremy (December 30, 2015). "Holden among many Louisiana politicians being urged to run for congressional seat". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  52. ^ Sharkey, Richard (January 6, 2016). "UPDATE: Mayor Jacques Roy may run for U.S. Senate seat". The Town Talk. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  53. ^ Allen, Rebekah (May 18, 2016). "Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden to challenge Congressman Cedric Richmond this fall". The Advocate. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  54. ^ Hilburn, Greg (January 6, 2016). "Alexandria mayor, state Rep. Johnson consider Senate run". The News-Star. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  55. ^ Sharkey, Richard (April 18, 2016). "Rep. Johnson won't run for U.S. Senate seat". The Town Talk. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  56. ^ Ballard, Mark (December 19, 2015). "Political Horizons: Despite campaign fatigue, a crowded, close Senate race looms". The Advocate. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  57. ^ Drusch, Andrea (December 20, 2015). "No Time to Waste in Louisiana". National Journal. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  58. ^ Alpert, Bruce (April 13, 2015). "John Kennedy's decision to opt out of race for governor or attorney general makes him potential Senate candidate". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  59. ^ Bruggeman, Karyn (November 14, 2015). "Landrieu Won't Rule Out Challenging Vitter in 2016". National Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  60. ^ Rainey, Richard (December 3, 2015). "New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says no to run for Vitter's Senate seat". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  61. ^ May, Gerry (May 7, 2015). "Fleming may need "crucial" boost from Vitter to replace him in U.S. Senate". KTBS-TV. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  62. ^ O'Donoghue, Julia (December 16, 2015). "John Bel Edwards picks ex-congressman Charlie Melancon, others for his cabinet". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  63. ^ Boyd, Kevin (April 29, 2016). "U.S. Senate Race Power Rankings — 1st Edition". The Hayride. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  64. ^ Dickerson, Seth (January 28, 2016). "Former ATC commissioner announces run for senate". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  65. ^ Brantley, Max (July 20, 2016). "Former Arkansan seeks U.S. Senate seat in Louisiana". Arkansas Times. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  66. ^ Lincoln, Sue (July 22, 2016). "No Shortage of Louisiana Candidates for U.S. Senate". WRKF. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  67. ^ Full debate
  68. ^ Full debate
  69. ^ SurveyMonkey
  70. ^ SurveyMonkey
  71. ^ SurveyMonkey
  72. ^ SurveyMonkey
  73. ^ SurveyMonkey
  74. ^ Southern Media and Opinion Research
  75. ^ The Times-Picayune/Lucid
  76. ^ University of New Orleans Archived October 29, 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  77. ^ FOX 8/Mason-Dixon
  78. ^ Market Research Insight
  79. ^ JMC Analytics (R)
  80. ^ JMC Analytics (R)
  81. ^ Southern Media and Opinion Research
  82. ^ Anzalone Liszt Grove Research (D)
  83. ^ The Hayride/Remington Research
  84. ^ GBA Strategies
  85. ^ Anzalone Liszt Grove Research Archived August 12, 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  86. ^ Southern Media and Opinion Research
  87. ^ SurveyUSA Archived August 14, 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  88. ^ Southern Media and Opinion Research Archived August 14, 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  89. ^ SurveyUSA
  90. ^ MRI
  91. ^ NSO Research (R-Kennedy)
  92. ^ University of New Orleans Archived December 20, 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  93. ^ Trafalgar Group (R)
  94. ^ Emerson College
  95. ^ Southern Media and Opinion Research
  96. ^ Tulane University
  97. ^ Trafalgar Group (R)
  98. ^ SurveyUSA
  99. ^ Anzalone Liszt Grove Research
  100. ^ "2016 Senate Race Ratings for November 2, 2016". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  101. ^ "2016 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  102. ^ "2016 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  103. ^ "Daily Kos Election 2016 forecast: The final version". Daily Kos. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  104. ^ "Battle for the Senate 2016". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  105. ^ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting