Donald Trump has been elected as the 47th President of the United States, securing a victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in a hotly contested race. The election, held on November 5, 2024, saw Trump reclaim the White House after a four-year hiatus.
National Snapshot:
While final tallies are still being confirmed in some states, Trump has secured the necessary 270 electoral votes to clinch the presidency. The Republican candidate made significant inroads with key demographics, including surprising gains among Black and Latino voters. Kamala Harris, who took up the Democratic mantle after President Biden’s withdrawal, fought a tough campaign but ultimately fell short in crucial battleground states.
Louisiana Results:
True to its recent voting history, Louisiana remained firmly in the Republican column. Trump carried the state decisively, continuing the trend set in 2016 and 2020. The state’s eight electoral votes were called early for Trump, with his margin of victory closely mirroring his performance in previous elections.
Ouachita Parish Breakdown:
In Ouachita Parish, Trump’s victory was even more pronounced, carrying the parish with 63% of the vote. The parish’s voting patterns revealed several notable trends:
- Republican Dominance: Trump received 40,808 votes in the parish, exceeding the number of registered Republicans (40,498), indicating significant crossover support from Democrats and independents.
- Democratic Turnout Issues: Of the 37,030 registered Democrats in Ouachita Parish, only 22,845 cast votes for Kamala Harris, highlighting a turnout problem for the Democratic Party.
- Black Voter Patterns: While 91% of Black voters in predominantly Black precincts supported Harris, turnout in these areas was strikingly low at only 25%. The highest turnout among these precincts was a mere 30% at Richwood Town Hall, with just 330 votes cast.
- Lack of Democratic Organization: Local Democratic efforts were notably weak. The Democratic Committee struggled to organize, holding only one meeting during the campaign due to quorum issues. Fundraising efforts were minimal, with only a single $100 donation received.
- Limited Grassroots Efforts: Apart from isolated initiatives like Rev. William Ross’s church-organized voting drive and a Divine 9 march to the polls, Democratic mobilization efforts were sparse.
The lackluster performance of the local Democratic Party stands in stark contrast to the Republican Party’s vigorous campaign efforts, which included widespread distribution of flyers and a massive ground game.
Members of the Democratic Committee locally include: Rev. James Boatner, chairman; Senator Katrina Jackson, Police Juror Lonnie Hudson, Police Juror Rev. Micheal Thompson, West Monroe Council member Rodney Welch, Former Mayor Jamie Mayo, Donterrius Anderson, Rev. Elijah Brass, III, Jela Casey and Attorney Robert “Bob” Noel.
The Free Press attempted to contact Rev. Boatner, but he did not return our phone call.
