Republican voters outnumber Democrats in early voting for 2023 gubernatorial primary
This story has been updated.
More than 360,000 people have already voted in the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial primary, according to statistics from the Louisiana Secretary of State.
The statistical report from the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office counted 368,948 early votes, including 95,032 mail-in ballots and 273,916 in-person ballots, cast as of Oct. 15.
The statistics show more Republicans have voted early this cycle — 162,014 early votes compared to 152,608 Democrats.
University of Louisiana Monroe professor Pearson Cross, an expert in Louisiana politics and elections, said it appears that there is more enthusiasm among Republicans this election cycle, as Republican voters outnumber Democrats in early voting — a reverse of 2019.
"Early voting may reflect a number of things, but in this case there may not be much enthusiasm for any of the candidates leading the ticket on both sides for governor," Cross said. "It may also reflect the attention that national politics has gotten at the expense of state and local political races. It is sometimes hard to remember that the presidential election is next year, not this."
More: Louisiana has never elected a Black governor. Will voters make history with Shawn Wilson?
In 2019, 216,856 Democrats participated in early voting compared to 159,633 Republicans.
Black voter turnout was 97,419 — dropping significantly from the 156,757 Black voter turnout in 2019.
The number of mail-in ballots have increased this cycle — jumping from 45,984 in 2019 to 95,032 — a leap that Cross credits to the pandemic.
"The increase in mail-in ballots may indicate greater citizen comfort with this method of voting, as COVID changed the dynamics of voting in person, making it easier for citizens to cast a ballot without risk or trouble," Cross said.
Like most pundits, Cross said he believes that the gubernatorial race will come down to a runoff between Republican Jeff Landry and Democrat Shawn Wilson. Cross said the two have been leading the polls, respectively, ever since they entered the race and no other candidate has made much impression on the voting public.
Cross predicts Billy Nungesser will win the lieutenant governor's race in the first round, while the Secretary of State race will go to a runoff, most likely between Gwen Collins-Greenup and whichever of the Republicans finishes first.
"This is a low-interest, low-information race that voters should have paid more attention to," he said.
Cross also forecasts runoffs for the attorney general and treasurer races.
More: What's on your ballot? A look at local elections
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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Here're the early voting stats for 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial primary
