Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana – The 2025 primary election in Calcasieu Parish will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Voters will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of local elections, including the selection of judges, mayors, and council members. Following the primary, any necessary runoffs will be held in the general election on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Among the key positions on the ballot are the associate justice of the Supreme Court for the 3rd Supreme Court District and several judgeships for the 14th Judicial District Court. The candidate for the associate justice position Cade R. Cole, is running unopposed.
The election will also feature two district judge positions: one for the 14th Judicial District Court, ES 2, Division D, with Hope Wyatt Buford as the Republican candidate, and another for ES 3, Division B, where Lee Hoffos is running as a Republican, also both unopposed.
In the City of Lake Charles, voters will elect a new mayor, with notable candidates such as incumbent Nic Hunter, a Republican, and Wilford Carter II, a Democrat.
City of Lake Charles Mayoral Candidates:
- Wilford Carter II (D)
- Nic Hunter (R) - Incumbent
- Marshall Simien Jr. (Ind.)
- James Steward (No party)
- Khalid Taha (R)
The Town of Vinton will also see a mayoral election with Bonnie Jo Bahnsen and incumbent Marcus Renfrow both vying for the position. Additionally, the town's chief of police, Scott Spell, is running unopposed for re-election.
Some city council positions will be contested in Lake Charles as well. Candidates in Districts A (Ronnie Harvey Jr. (D) - Incumbent), D (Matt Young (Ind.)), and E (Stuart Weatherford (R) - Incumbent), are all running unopposed.
The following Lake Charles City Council seats are up for election.
Lake Charles City Council District B Candidates
- Luvertha August (D) - Incumbent
- Donald Fondel (D)
Lake Charles City Council District C Candidates
- Tommy Bilbo (D)
- Charles Gallien (D)
- Donald Hanchett (D)
- Amanda Fontenot Johnson (D)
- Priscilla Sam (D)
The Town of Vinton will elect five council members, with all five incumbents, Diane Conner, Stephanie Hardy, B.B. Loyd, Lindsey Jennings Stanley, and Michael JK Wright all running unopposed.
In addition to local offices, voters will also decide on four constitutional amendments. These amendments address various legal and administrative issues, including disciplinary proceedings over attorneys, taxation powers, juvenile crime proceedings, and election dates for newly created judgeships.
Constitutional Amendments on the ballot:
Constitutional Amendment No. 1 (ACT No. 2, 2024-3ES - SB 1) - To provide for disciplinary proceedings over attorneys and to create courts of limited jurisdiction
Constitutional Amendment No. 2 (ACT No. 1, 2024-3ES - HB 7) - To provide with respect to the power of taxation including limitations thereon
Constitutional Amendment No. 3 (ACT No. 3, 2024-3ES - SB 2) - To provide relative to crimes committed by juveniles and to special juvenile proceedings
Constitutional Amendment No. 4 (ACT No. 4, 2024-3ES - SB 5) - To provide for election dates for newly-created judgeships or vacancies in office of judge
As the election date approaches, voters are encouraged to educate themselves on the candidates and the proposed amendments to make informed decisions at the polls.