Early voting begins today for this year’s Congressional primary election, allowing Democratic, Libertarian and Republican voters in the New Orleans area to choose nominees for both U.S. House and Senate.
Early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, then from Monday to Saturday of the coming week, Aug. 16-21, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s early voting website. The only central New Orleans location is room 1w23 of the City Hall complex at 1300 Perdido St., but other locations are also available in New Orleans East and Algiers.
Local Democrats will see the longest ballot, with three potential challengers for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican David Vitter and four vying for the Anh “Joseph” Cao’s U.S. House seat. Democrats and independents may vote in the Democratic primary; members of the Republican or other parties may not.
Democrats running for U.S. Senate are:
- U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon of Napoleonville
- Cary Deaton of Metairie
- Neeson J. Chauvin Jr. of Carencro
Democrats running for U.S. House are:
- Eugene Green of New Orleans(D)
- Gary Johnson of New Orleans(D)
- State Rep. Juan LaFonta of New Orleans (D)
- State Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans (D)
On the Republican side, Cao’s re-election bid is uncontested, but Vitter has drawn two challengers from within his party. Only registered Republicans can vote in their primary.
On the Republicans’ ballot:
- U.S. Sen. David Vitter* (R)
- Nick Accardo of Franklin (R)
- Chet Traylor of Monroe (R)
Libertarians will have a contested primary for the U.S. Senate race as well. Independents are invited to vote in the Libertarian party, but Democrats, Republicans and members of other parties may not.
- Anthony Gentile of Mandeville (Libertarian)
- Randall Todd Hayes of Atlanta, La. (Libertarian)
Election Day is Aug. 28. If runoffs are necessary, they will be held the same day as the Oct. 2 open primary for state and local races. Finally, the party nominees and the independent candidates for Congress will all be on the ballot together Nov. 2, along with any state or local races that were not decided in the open primary.
