Chasity Verret Martinez won a Louisiana state House special election with 62% of the vote in a district President Trump carried by 13 points in 2024. The seat opened after the previous Democratic representative was appointed a state commissioner by Gov. Jeff Landry. Martinez, a former Iberville Parish councilwoman who emphasized affordability and local priorities, prevailed despite being outspent about 3-to-1. The result is part of a broader string of Democratic special-election gains since Mr. Trump's second term began.
Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez Wins Louisiana State House Race — 62% in District Trump Carried by 13 Points
Chasity Verret Martinez, a Democrat and former Iberville Parish councilwoman, won a Louisiana state House special election Saturday night with 62% of the vote, defeating Republican Brad Daigle, who received 38%, according to unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Why The Race Was Notable
The seat is located in a district President Donald Trump carried by 13 points in 2024, making Martinez's margin roughly a 37-point swing from last year. The contest was triggered when the district's prior Democratic state representative was appointed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as a commissioner at the state's Department of Alcohol & Tobacco.
Campaign And Context
Martinez centered her campaign on affordability and local issues and prevailed despite being outspent by Republican interests by an estimated 3-to-1. While the seat technically remained in Democratic hands, Republicans had viewed the special election as a prime pickup opportunity because the district supported Mr. Trump in recent presidential contests. The district, however, has a history of voting for Democrats at state and local levels.
Broader Implications
Martinez's victory follows a similar Democratic special-election flip in Texas' 9th state Senate special election, where Taylor Rehmet captured a seat in a large Republican county. Democrats have flipped eight previously GOP-held legislative seats in special elections since Mr. Trump's second term began, and Republicans have not yet recorded a special-election legislative pickup in that period.
Statement: The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee said Republicans "squandered their first flip opportunity in an election they should've had in the bag."
Unofficial results and vote totals were posted by the Louisiana Secretary of State. The outcome highlights how localized issues, candidate profiles and turnout can produce results that diverge from national-level presidential margins.
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