"Democrats successfully defended a conservative seat in rural Louisiana on Saturday night, as Chasity Martinez defeated Republican Brad Daigle by a dominant 62-38 margin-a massive 37-point overperformance compared to the 2024 presidential result. Republicans had hoped to score their first legislative pickup of any kind during Donald Trump's second term, and they had good reason to think they might succeed in the 60th House District."
"The seat had been held by a third term Democrat whom Governor Jeff Landry installed in a state position, setting up what Republicans had hoped would be a chance to flip a district, what would have been their first since Trump's win. Didn't work out that way. Martinez' win comes on the heels of Tyler Rehmet's equally surprising 58-41 win in a Texas State Senate district, last week, flipping a Trump +17 district. Neither of these wins matter legislatively, yet."
Chasity Martinez captured Louisiana's 60th House District with a 62-38 victory, a 37-point overperformance relative to Trump's prior 13-point lead. The rural district covers parts of Assumption and Iberville parishes and historically backed state and local Democrats while moving Republican at the federal level. The seat opened after a third-term Democrat accepted a state appointment from Governor Jeff Landry, creating a GOP flip opportunity that failed. Martinez's win follows Tyler Rehmet's 58-41 upset in a Trump +17 Texas Senate district. Neither outcome alters legislative control immediately, but both indicate large swings in pro-Trump Southern districts.
Read at emptywheel
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]