Who's running in Louisiana's 1st congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
4 candidates · ballot order · Steve Scalise currently holds this seat
Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Term limits for members of Congress.
Spending tax dollars on domestic problems rather than foreign nations' wars.
Strict adherence to the Constitution and protecting individual freedom.
Being 'a humble public servant, not a rock star celebrity'.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Navy aviator for 21 years, active duty and reserve.
Department of Homeland Security air interdiction agent for 22 years.
Former university political science professor.
Candidate against Scalise in 2024.
Qualified August 5, 2026 for the November 3 open primary.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No news coverage of Arrington's 2026 campaign and no published argument for or against him by a named opponent, party or outlet could be found; his positions come from a 2024 Ballotpedia survey and a local candidate roundup.
His campaign website and fundraising were not found.
Protecting Medicaid, which covers a large share of Louisianans.
Stronger education for children and adults.
Protecting Louisiana's coast.
Making 'Washington answer to the people it represents'.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Special education teacher for about 17 years.
Represents the First Congressional District Caucus on the Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Committee.
Qualified August 5, 2026 for the November 3 open primary.
Has not held elected office.
Endorsed by the Louisiana Democratic Party for the November 3 open primary.
Endorsed by the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee in March 2026, 117–8, and again for the November open primary.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Jewett could be found, so no arguments are listed for her (a case for her without any sourced criticism would be one-sided; her own case is in her positions). Searched: 'Lauren Jewett Scalise criticism', Scalise campaign and Louisiana Republican Party statements, and Louisiana Radio Network, Louisiana Illuminator, The Bayou Progressive and American Press coverage.
Her current fundraising was not found; she reported about $7,300 on hand in late 2025.
Creating good-paying jobs and expanding domestic energy production.
Border security and a strong national defence.
Protecting individual freedoms.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Louisiana's 1st District since 2008; reelected in 2024 with 66.8%.
House majority leader since 2023.
Louisiana state representative from 1996 and briefly a state senator in 2008.
Had about $5 million in campaign cash in late 2025, according to Louisiana Radio Network.
Endorsed by President Trump; qualified August 7, 2026 for the November 3 open primary.
Arguments in favor
He is 'a hardworking, Conservative leader fighting for Louisiana families', working 'to promote fiscal discipline, create good-paying jobs, protect our freedoms, and get our economy back on track.'
— Scalise for Congress campaign website
Arguments against
'Steve Scalise has spent years building influence in Washington. Yet the people he represents are still waiting for that influence to improve their lives' — and he is not attuned to the roughly 1.5 million Louisianans who rely on Medicaid.
— Lauren Jewett, Democratic opponent, campaign website and remarks to Louisiana Radio Network
What we couldn’t verify
No detailed 2026 critique of Scalise's record by a party committee or news outlet was found; the district is heavily Republican.
Whether any debates or forums will be held had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Louisiana's election system for this seat changed in 2026. Closed party primaries were scheduled for May 16, but after the US Supreme Court struck down the state's congressional map in Louisiana v. Callais (April 2026), Gov. Jeff Landry suspended them, and the Legislature moved the House races to an open 'jungle' primary on November 3: all candidates of every party appear on one ballot, a candidate with more than 50% wins outright, and otherwise the top two advance to a runoff on December 12, 2026. Votes already cast for the May House primaries were voided. The Legislature passed a new congressional map, signed by Landry on May 29, 2026, that eliminates one of the state's two majority-Black districts; lawsuits over the map were filed or threatened from both sides, and their outcome was not established. Candidates had to requalify August 5–7. Four candidates qualified for this district, per the Secretary of State's candidate inquiry: Republican Randall Arrington, no-party candidate E. 'Liddy' Glass, Democrat Lauren Jewett and Republican incumbent Steve Scalise. They are listed here alphabetically. The district covers the New Orleans suburbs from the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain south to the Mississippi River Delta; Scalise won with 66.8% in 2024.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Louisiana ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Louisiana Secretary of State.