Supreme Court Chaos Proves Louisiana’s Closed Primary Must Go

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 30, 2026

Media contact: media@votechrisjustin.com

NEW ORLEANS — With Louisiana’s election calendar thrown into uncertainty, Public Service Commission District 1 candidate Chris Justin is calling on the Legislature to seize the moment and throw out the state’s closed primary system once and for all.

“This system disenfranchises voters, protects establishment candidates, and strips Louisiana citizens of real choices at the ballot box. We need to scrap the whole thing and go back to the open primary,” Justin said.

Under the closed primary, voters are restricted to candidates within their own registered party, leaving hundreds of thousands of voters with limited options. The system was built to benefit entrenched political insiders and shut out competition.

Justin has lived the consequences directly. As a “no-party” candidate, he was forced to spend over $50,000 just to meet the qualifications to get on the ballot, a barrier that would stop most everyday citizens from ever running for office. Because “no-party” candidates proceed directly to the November general election, his name appears nowhere on the SOS May election listing, leaving voters across District 1 confused about when they will be able to vote for him.

“Voters deserve real options. They deserve to choose the best candidate, not just whoever their party handed them. This system kills competition, rewards the establishment, and leaves regular people completely in the dark. It is fundamentally anti-democratic and frankly un-American.”

Louisiana used an open jungle primary for decades, giving every voter — regardless of party — an equal voice. Justin is calling on the Legislature to restore that system immediately.

“Give voters their voice back.”

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Chris Justin, PE, is a licensed professional engineer and former consultant to the Louisiana Public Service Commission on utility regulatory matters. He is running as an Independent candidate for PSC District 1, focused on utility accountability and regulatory reform. Learn more at votechrisjustin.com.