News Summary
In a surprising municipal primary election, Louisiana voters overwhelmingly rejected all four proposed constitutional amendments, signaling discontent with Governor Jeff Landry’s administration. Over 60% opposed each amendment, marking a substantial setback for the governor. Key issues included questions surrounding out-of-state lawyer regulation, tax law revisions, juvenile justice policies, and judicial vacancy processes. The grassroots campaign ‘No to Them All, Y’all!’ celebrated the outcome, highlighting a mobilized electorate ready for change.
Louisiana Voters Say No to Proposed Constitutional Amendments!
In a surprising turn of events during the municipal primary election on Saturday, March 29, 2025, Louisiana voters showed a strong stance by decisively rejecting all four proposed constitutional amendments. Each amendment faced resounding opposition, with over 60% of voters casting their ballots against these changes. This marks one of the first significant setbacks for Governor Jeff Landry, leaving many to wonder about the implications for his administration.
Amendment 1: Out-of-State Lawyers in Hot Water
The first proposed amendment aimed to grant the state Supreme Court explicit authority to discipline out-of-state lawyers. However, the voters were not having any of it, rejecting it with a striking 64% disapproval rate—380,816 no votes compared to 215,909 yes votes. Concerns about this amendment were fueled by past misconduct involving out-of-state legal firms dealing with storm damage claims from hurricanes Laura and Delta back in 2020. Voters appeared wary of giving such power without more oversight.
Amendment 2: Tax Law Changes Backfire
Next up was Amendment 2, which Governor Landry touted as a “blinchpin to economic prosperity.” Unfortunately for him, voters didn’t share the same enthusiasm. This amendment aimed to revise certain tax laws but was turned down by 63% (379,631 no votes to 218,821 yes votes). Critics called the language of the amendment deceptive, claiming it misled voters about the actual changes it proposed. Many felt this amendment simply did not align with their vision for Louisiana’s financial future.
Amendment 3: Young Offenders Face Punishment
Amendment 3 sought to give the legislature the ability to decide which crimes committed by individuals under 17 could lead to adult trials. Voters decisively rejected this proposal with 65% opposition—389,466 no votes to 208,029 yes votes. The opponents of this amendment argued that it would prioritize punishment over rehabilitation, emphasizing the need for healing and accountability for young people instead of heavy-handed consequences.
Amendment 4: Filling Judicial Vacancies
Finally, Amendment 4 proposed using the earliest available election dates to fill judicial vacancies. It did not fare much better, facing rejection from 62% of voters (371,991 no votes to 224,979 yes votes). This amendment struggled to garner the necessary support, highlighting a growing dissatisfaction with proposed changes to the state’s judicial process.
Grassroots Movement Celebrates
In the wake of the election results, the grassroots campaign No to Them All, Y’all! celebrated what they viewed as a significant backlash against Governor Landry’s administration. The strong “no” votes were seen as a reflection of growing discontent among Louisiana voters, suggesting an energized electorate opposed to recent state initiatives. The grassroots movement enjoyed bipartisan support against the amendments, uniting both left-leaning and right-leaning organizations under one common cause.
Governor’s Response
Despite the disappointing results, Governor Landry was quick to characterize the defeat as a learning opportunity rather than a complete failure. He expressed the need for continued efforts to make positive changes within Louisiana, yet critics noted that he seemed to attribute blame to outside influences. Governor Landry pointed fingers at liberal financier George Soros and claimed that misleading “propaganda” was behind the rejection of Amendment 2, though he provided no supporting evidence for these assertions.
Takeaways from the Election
The voting patterns in urban areas provided additional insights, with Orleans Parish reporting a staggering 91% of voters against Amendment 2. Analysts noted that this could indicate a broader mobilization of discontent with state leadership, perhaps spurred by dissatisfaction among likely Democratic voters. Early voting had been described as unusually energized, reinforcing the idea that voters were not just rejecting these amendments, but also expressing their displeasure with the current political climate.
The rejection of all four amendments presents a clear message from the electorate. It appears that many Louisianans are looking for a different approach to governance, one that truly reflects their needs and desires. As for Governor Landry and his administration, there’s a lot of soul-searching ahead to ensure they align better with the voters they aim to serve.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- AP News: Louisiana Constitutional Amendments
- Wikipedia: Louisiana Constitutional Amendments
- NOLA: Why Jeff Landry’s Amendments Failed
- Google Search: Louisiana Constitutional Amendments 2025
- KLFY: Louisiana Voters Reject Amendments
- Google Scholar: Louisiana Constitutional Amendments
- KPLC: Louisiana Voters Say No
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Louisiana Amendments
- The Center Square: Louisiana Amendments Results
- Google News: Louisiana Election Results
