Louisiana

7 seats: 5R, 2D

Where It Ranks Among the States (House Elections 2000)

  • Voter Turnout: 50th (37%)
  • Victory Margin: 49th (60%)

Facts in Focus

  • Only 28% of Louisiana adults � about one out of 4 � voted for a winning House candidate in 2000. This "representation index" is still almost five times higher than it was in 1998.
  • Louisiana ranks below only two other states in the "democracy index," which is a measure of a state's overall ranking.
If only one candidate files in a House race, no election is held, and voters have no opportunity to cast ballots for or against that candidate. That is the reason why no votes were cast in the second district, and a major influence on the state's abysmals turnout ratings.
  • The average margin of victory for winning U.S. House candidates in Louisiana in 2000 was 60%. This includes the one races where challengers did not file, but Louisiana's House races typically are non-competitive. The average victory margin was 45% in 1992, 54% in 1994 and 38% in 1996.
  • 58 of 74 House elections were won by at least 40% in the 1982-2000 period. Three Members have won all their races in the 1992-2000 period by at least 40%; another has won all his races by at least 20%.


    • How Louisiana ranked in 2000

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