It struggled to regain power through Reconstruction, when the Republican Party became competitive due to support by most African Americans and many other Unionists.

The only Democrat to win a statewide election in Louisiana since Landrieu won her third and final senate term in 2008 was John Bel Edwards, who ran for Governor in 2015 and 2019.

By the 1840s New Orleans had a large increase in population due to an influx of thousands of Irish and German immigrants; most of them became Democrats, as the party worked to integrate them into American life.

Democratic insurgents were active in the state, and elections were accompanied by fraud and violence as they sought to suppress the black Republican vote.

Following the disputed election of 1872, in which both parties' candidates declared victory, armed Democrats took over state offices in New Orleans for several days, struggling to unseat Republicans.

In 1874 the Democratic paramilitary group known as the White League established chapters in numerous parishes, and it worked to disrupt Republican meetings and voting.

The Democratic Party quickly regained control of the state legislature and politics; its candidates won every election for governor until 1980.

In the era after World War II, black veterans and other leaders pressed to have their constitutional rights recognized: to be able to vote, use public places and facilities, and be treated as the United States citizens they were.

In many southern states, white conservative voters began to vote for Republican presidential candidates, as a sign of their future political realignment.

From the 1930s, after many African Americans had left the state seeking work in other areas in the Great Migration, Louisiana has been majority white.

The process of party switching appears to have been slower in Louisiana than in some other Southern states, as Democratic candidates continued to win governorships through the 20th century.

[13] The evacuations and extensive damage to residential areas resulting from Hurricane Katrina had far-reaching political effects in the state.

"First, the exodus of Democratic voters to Texas, Florida and other parts of the country could affect local and statewide races in Louisiana--to the benefit of Republicans.

At the same time, many of those who left New Orleans went to other parts of Louisiana, producing new micro-electorates where Democrats have moved into traditionally Republican areas.

The changes resulted in Democrat Don Cazayoux winning Louisiana's 6th congressional district "after more than three decades under Republican control.

Because of demographic changes and political realignment, the Democratic Party has won fewer offices at the statewide and national levels in Louisiana.