A new poll finds overwhelming support for open primary elections as opposed to closed party primaries. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
____________________________________________
Governor Jeff Landry is warning SNAP recipients they will not receive government cash assistance for food purchases if the federal government shutdown continues. Andre Champagne has the story.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
____________________________________________
The legislature begins a special session at two this afternoon. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
_________________________________________________
The LSU Presidential Search Committee holds its third meeting this afternoon. Piper Hutchinson, a reporter with the Louisiana Illuminator, says with this meeting, the committee moves into the final stages of selecting the university system’s next president.
Cut 4 (12) “…soon become public.”
Hutchinson says several people have expressed interest in becoming the new leader of the LSU system.
Cut 5 (12) “…were highly qualified.”
Next Wednesday morning, the committee will conduct interviews with the candidates it invited to apply for the position and will select three finalists to recommend to the Board of Supervisors. Hutchinson says after that, a series of meetings will be held with those finalists.
Cut 6 (09) “…to vote on.”
Hutchinson says they hope to have the new president selected by Thanksgiving and have that new president begin shortly after the first of the year.
_________________________________________________
A new statewide poll finds Louisiana residents overwhelmingly support an open primary election system over a closed party primary. Pollster John Couvillon says 69-percent of the 600 respondents favor an open primary, which is a similar percentage to when JMC Analytics and Polling asked this same question in the first quarter of this year.
Cut 7 (11) “…be coming online.”
Next year’s federal elections will be closed party primaries, which means registered Republicans and no party voters can only vote in the Republican primary and Democrats and no party voters can only vote in the Democratic primary.
Couvillon says Louisiana voters prefer the simplicity of an open party primary.
Cut 8 (06) “…who you want.”
A group called Unite America paid for the poll. Unite America promotes itself as an organization that invests in nonpartisan election reform.
In 2024, Governor Jeff Landry helped convince the Louisiana Legislature to pass legislation to switch to closed party primaries for election to federal offices and other offices like P-S-C and BESE.
A spokesperson for Landry says Unite America’s philanthropic work supports groups with strong, liberal bias, like Environmental Defense Fund, Anti-Defamation League and the Nature Conservancy.
Couvillon says the last time Louisiana went to party primaries, it didn’t last long.
Cut 9 (10) “…quickly repealed it.”
Landry’s argument for changing to party primaries was that states that were more successful than Louisiana used that system to elect their officials.
_________________________________________________
Governor Jeff Landry is warning SNAP recipients that they will not receive cash assistance from the government on their cards starting November 1st if the federal government shutdown continues. Jan (“yahn”) Moller, the executive director of Invest Louisiana, says this action could be avoided.
Cut 10 (11) “…still get paid.”
It’s unknown if the USDA plans to utilize contingency funds to ensure November SNAP benefits. Governor Jeff Landry blames Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the rest of the Senate Democrats who are not voting for a funding bill to re-open the federal government.
Moeller says more than 800-thousand households in Louisiana rely on SNAP benefits.
Cut 11 (09) “…of the month.”
Moeller says instead of having a special session to change the dates of next year’s federal party primary elections, legislators should hold meetings on how they could use state dollars to pay for November SNAP benefits.
Cut 12 (06) “…get paid out.”
There’s no guarantee the federal government will reimburse Louisiana or any other state if they use state resources to bridge the gap until the federal government reopens.
_________________________________________________
The legislature reconvenes at two this afternoon to begin a 22-day special session to adjust the primary election calendar. According to the bill co-authored by Port Allen Republican Senator Caleb Kleinpeter, the dates for the primary and runoff would be pushed back 30 days. This comes as the Supreme Court considers its ruling on the constitutionality of the creation of the state’s second majority Black congressional district. Kleinpeter says when the Supreme Court will rule is anyone’s guess.
Cut 13 (07) “…back before Christmas.”
Kleinpeter says even though Governor Landry scheduled the session for 22 days, he expects it to gavel out sine die much sooner.
Cut 14 (08) “…just in case.”
New Orleans Democratic Representative Candace Newell (new-ELL) also expects the session to be done well before the November 13th deadline. She has concerns about moving the calendar.
Cut 15 (12) “…in the process.”
There’s also the possibility that someone may file a bill that would do away with the closed primary and go back to an open primary, which would eliminate the primary and runoff altogether and go straight to Election Day on November 3rd, 2026. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says he’s in favor of that – and so is Newell.
Cut 16 (08) “…the closed primaries.”
__________________________________________________
The Saints return to New Orleans to host their divisional rival with the Buccaneers on Sunday. Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield did not hide his hatred for the team in black and gold.
Cut 17 (09) “…don’t like them.”
Saints head coach Kellen Moore responded to Mayfield’s comments by saying he understands how big the rivalry is, and he expects Sunday to be a fun matchup.
_____________________________________________________
ULM is coming off a frustrating 37-14 loss to Troy on Saturday, falling to 3-and-4 on the year. Head coach Bryant Vincent says the Warhawks are not giving up on the season, and the team will continue to bring the fight each game.
Cut 18 (14) “…were thinking wrong.”
The Warhawks travel to Hattiesburg on Saturday to face Southern Mississippi at 2:30 p.m.
_____________________________________________________
During the weekly SEC teleconference, LSU head coach Brian Kelly gave an update on junior linebacker Whit Weeks’ availability heading into Saturday’s matchup with number-three Texas A&M.
Cut 19 (14) “…in the week.”
The Tigers are 0-and-5 when Whit Weeks does not play or start. LSU senior defensive tackle Bernard Gooden practiced on Tuesday but did not do everything.
LSU 6-foot-7 sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green has totaled 193 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games. Green spent time playing with the LSU basketball team last year but made the transition to just football this year. Kelly says Green has done all the things necessary to break out this season.
Cut 20 (17) “…-playing the game.”