Voters may find the list of candidates is much shorter than in years past when casting a ballot in the 2026 midterm elections next November.

That’s because, under new rules for Louisiana’s closed party primary races that begin in April, candidates for U.S. House and Senate who aren’t Democrats or Republicans have more work to do to get on the November ballot.

Democratic and Republican candidates can sign up to run for office in January by filling out a candidacy form and paying the qualifying fee for the race. It’s $3,500 for the Senate and $1,500 for the House.

All other candidates for those races — for example, unaffiliated “no party” candidates, Green Party members and Libertarians — are required to qualify through the state’s little-used nominating petition process.

How it works

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