Democratic legislators don’t win much but keep fighting

Published: February 18, 2026

By: Avery White, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE–Every time legislation is on the floor, there are always voices echoing through the chambers, firing off questions and pushing perspectives not in lockstep with the majority.

These days, the opposing voices in the sea of noise are usually Democrats, who total only 39 of the 137 members of the Louisiana Legislature. Making up just under 30% of the collective, they are almost always outvoted now.

Their numbers have dwindled since Louisiana began to shift in the early 2000s from a majority Democratic state to majority Republican. And so has their ability to be involved in compromises since Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards gave way to Republican Gov. Jeff Landry in early 2024.

Yet, they keep fighting, whether it’s to stand up for their constituents on issues like education or health care or to lay the groundwork for legal challenges to some new laws.

“You’re fighting for the people that sent you there, and as long as they see you fighting, it’s important that we continue to tell their stories,” said Rep. Venessa LaFleur, D-Baton Rouge. “That we continue to fight for them, knowing what the outcome is. But that doesn’t lessen the fight that is within us.”

Read more at KATC.