NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Donald Trump has once again won Louisiana, with its eight electoral votes in the presidential race.
The state’s ruby-red voting history meant neither President Trump nor former Vice President Joe Biden campaigned in person in Louisiana, which went strongly for Trump in 2016. During that election, Trump won 58% of the vote compared with Hillary Clinton’s 38%.
Vice President Mike Pence did come to visit in July to see how the state’s efforts to fight the coronavirus were going, and the president visited southwest Louisiana in August to see how residents were faring after Hurricane Laura tore through the region.
Biden’s running mate, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, visited Louisiana at least three times as a presidential contender in 2019 to attend events geared toward Black women — a key voting bloc for Democrats. Biden also visited in 2019. Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond is the co-chairman of Biden’s campaign.
Louisiana actually has more registered Democrat than Republican voters in a reflection of how strong the Democratic party used to be in the state. But in recent years, Louisiana has leaned strongly Republican.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is a Democrat. Every other statewide elected official is Republican, both U.S. senators are Republican, and both houses of the Legislature are controlled by Republicans.
The state hasn’t voted a for a Democrat for president since 1996. That’s when Bill Clinton won 52% of the vote.
