ALEXANDRIA, La. (UrbanCast: 6/28/2026) — Voters across Central Louisiana overwhelmingly renewed local taxes Saturday while delivering mixed results in Louisiana’s Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Statewide, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow won the Republican primary with 179,971 votes, or 57%, defeating John Fleming, who received 136,567 votes, or 43%. On the Democratic side, Jamie Davis defeated Gary Crockett 80% to 20%.
The regional map looked different. Fleming carried five of the seven parishes reviewed, while Letlow won two.
Rapides Parish
Fleming defeated Letlow 55% to 45% in the Republican primary. Davis won the Democratic primary with 79%.
Voters renewed the Rapides Parish Law Enforcement District’s 9.60-mill property tax with 60% support. They also renewed the Rapides Parish School Board’s 12.06-mill tax with 61% approval.
Voters approved both Consolidated School District No. 62 millage renewals. Pineville voters renewed School District No. 52’s millage. In the Poland School District, voters approved all three school millage renewals. Gravity Drainage District No. 2 voters also renewed a 10-mill property tax.
Grant Parish
Fleming carried Grant Parish 56% to 44%, while Davis won the Democratic primary 69% to 31%.
Voters approved all three parishwide tax propositions. The measures passed with 55%, 55% and 59% support.
Vernon Parish
Vernon Parish gave Fleming his strongest regional margin, 64% to 36%. Davis won the Democratic primary with 69%.
LaFonda Stelly won the Leesville mayor’s race, defeating James “Jim” Shapkoff 65% to 35%.
Fredrick “Fred” Carter won the Leesville District 2 City Council seat with 55% of the vote. William H. Anderson captured the District 3 seat with 65%.
In DeRidder, Vincent Labue defeated Lydia Reynolds 61% to 39% for the Councilman-at-Large seat.
Natchitoches Parish
Fleming narrowly defeated Letlow 51% to 49%. Davis won the Democratic primary with 79%.
Voters approved the Fire Protection District No. 10 millage renewal with 83% support.
Allen Parish
Allen Parish backed Fleming 61% to 39%. Davis won the Democratic primary 65% to 35%.
Oakdale voters approved a 5.52-mill maintenance and operations renewal with 54% support.
Evangeline Parish
Evangeline Parish broke from much of the region. Letlow defeated Fleming 56% to 44%, while Davis won the Democratic primary with 78%.
Voters approved every proposition reviewed, including the parishwide school board renewal with 62% support, Cemetery District No. 4 with 66%, Consolidated School District No. 2 with 59% and School District No. 7 with 74%.
Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish also backed Letlow. She defeated Fleming 60% to 40%, while Davis carried the Democratic primary with 70%.
Voters approved every school tax proposition reviewed. The parishwide one-half cent sales and use tax renewal passed with 63% support. Two additional five-mill school tax renewals passed with 60% and 59% approval.
Regional Takeaway
The Republican primary exposed a clear regional divide. Fleming carried Rapides, Grant, Vernon, Natchitoches and Allen parishes. Letlow carried Evangeline and Avoyelles before securing the statewide Republican primary victory.
Meanwhile, Democratic voters consistently supported Davis across every parish reviewed. Local voters also showed strong support for renewing taxes that fund schools, law enforcement, fire protection, drainage and other public services.
The results remain unofficial until certified by the Louisiana Secretary of State.
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