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1988 United States presidential election in Louisiana

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1988 United States presidential election in Louisiana

← 1984 November 8, 1988 1992 →
 
Nominee George H. W. Bush Michael Dukakis
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Texas Massachusetts
Running mate Dan Quayle Lloyd Bentsen
Electoral vote 10 0
Popular vote 883,702 717,460
Percentage 54.27% 44.06%

Parish Results

President before election

Ronald Reagan
Republican

Elected President

George H. W. Bush
Republican

The 1988 United States presidential election in Louisiana took place on November 8, 1988, as part of the 1988 United States presidential election. State voters chose ten representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Louisiana strongly voted for the Republican nominee, Vice President George H. W. Bush, over the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis. The margin was 10%, which was nonetheless the best showing for Dukakis in a former Confederate state. This result made Louisiana 2.4% more Republican than the nation-at-large. Tensas Parish would not vote Republican again until 2024. [1]

Background

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The percentage of registered voters in Louisiana who were Republicans rose from 11.3% in 1984 to 16.4% in 1988 while the Democratic figure fell from 80.6% to 75.2%.[2]

Campaign

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Republican primary

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The Southern Republican Leadership Conference had all of the presidential candidates committed to attend its February meeting in New Orleans, but none of them came as they were instead focused on the New Hampshire primary.[3]

The Republicans conducted a voter registration campaign that increased the amount of registered Republicans by 25,063 between the 1987 gubernatorial primary and Super Tuesday and an additional 36,100 were registered before the presidential election. Turnout in the Republican primary rose to 19% from 5% in 1984, and 10% in 1980. In the Republican primary George H. W. Bush earned all of the delegates by placing first in every congressional district. [4] 27% of white voters participated in the Republican primary.[5]

Seven uncommitted delegates were selected by the central committee Republican Party of Louisiana on March 19. Supporters of Pat Robertson and Jack Kemp, who totaled 58 of the 140 committee members, formed a coalition to take over the party. The coalition failed to gain the position of chair, but won the position of secretary, national committeeman, and three of the seven alternate delegates.[6]

1988 Louisiana Republican presidential primary[7]
Candidate Votes % Delegates[8]
George H. W. Bush 83,684 57.80 34[a][b]
Pat Robertson 26,294 18.16 0
Bob Dole 25,624 17.70 0
Jack Kemp 7,722 5.33 0
Pete du Pont (withdrawn) 851 0.59 0
Alexander Haig (withdrawn) 598 0.41 0
Total 144,773 100% 34

Democratic primary

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The Louisiana Democratic Party planned a Summit on Super Tuesday event in January, which all of the presidential candidates agreed to attend, but only Al Gore came.[3]

Turnout in the Democratic primary rose to 24% from 14% in 1984, and 11% in 1980. Jesse Jackson and Gore were the only Democratic candidates to receive more than 15% in the primary and received 21 and 15 delegates respectively. Michael Dukakis and Dick Gephardt both won two delegates.[10] The racial composition of the primary was 62% white and 38% black.[11]

The central committee of the Louisiana Democratic Party allocated an additional 10 at-large delegates to Jackson, 8 to Gore, and four to Dukakis on June 4, 1988. The state's delegation also included 14 uncommitted superdelegates. Endorsements resulted in the delegation being divided between 41 delegates for Jackson, 33 for Dukakis, and one for Gephardt. John Breaux was selected as the delegation's chair while negotiations with the Jackson delegation produced William Jefferson as co-chair and Sidney Barthelemy as a member of the Democratic National Committee.[8]

Governor Buddy Roemer stated that he would vote for Dukakis, but not support him and stated that he had "never seen a more unfocused, unorganized, non-issue campaign" in his life.[12]

1988 Louisiana Democratic presidential primary[7]
Candidate Votes % Delegates[13]
Jesse Jackson 221,522 35.44 21[c]
Al Gore 174,971 27.99 15[d]
Michael Dukakis 95,661 15.31 2[e]
Dick Gephardt 67,029 10.72 2
Gary Hart 26,437 4.23 0
David Duke 23,391 3.74 0
Paul Simon 5,153 0.82 0
Frank Ahern 3,702 0.59 0
Bruce Babbitt (withdrawn) 3,076 0.49 0
Lyndon LaRouche 1,681 0.27 0
Norbert G. Dennerll Jr. 1,574 0.25 0
Richard B. Kay 822 0.13 0
Total 625,019 100% 40

General

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68% of white voters supported Bush while 30% supported Dukakis.[15][16]

The Democrats maintained their control over the Louisiana House of Representatives, with 90 seats to the Republican's 17 seats, and Louisiana State Senate, with 37 seats to the Republican's 2 seats, despite Bush's victory in the presidential race.[17]

Results

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1988 United States presidential election in Louisiana[18]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage Electoral votes
Republican George H. W. Bush 883,702 54.27% 10
Democratic Michael Dukakis 717,460 44.06% 0
Independent Populist David Duke 18,612 1.14% 0
Libertarian Ron Paul 4,115 0.25% 0
New Alliance Lenora Fulani 2,355 0.14% 0
Democrats for Economic Recovery Lyndon LaRouche 1,958 0.12% 0
Invalid or blank votes
Totals 1,628,202 100.00% 10
Voter turnout

Results by parish

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Parish[19] George H.W. Bush
Republican
Michael Dukakis
Democratic
David Duke
Independent Populist
Various candidates
Other parties
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # % # %
Acadia 11,279 49.21% 11,359 49.56% 183 0.80% 98 0.43% -80 -0.35% 22,919
Allen 3,674 40.87% 5,204 57.89% 64 0.71% 47 0.52% -1,530 -17.02% 8,989
Ascension 10,726 46.15% 12,147 52.27% 219 0.94% 148 0.64% -1,421 -6.12% 23,240
Assumption 4,017 40.19% 5,610 56.13% 300 3.00% 68 0.68% -1,593 -15.94% 9,995
Avoyelles 7,659 49.08% 7,353 47.12% 466 2.99% 128 0.82% 306 1.96% 15,606
Beauregard 6,466 57.30% 4,704 41.68% 59 0.52% 56 0.50% 1,762 15.62% 11,285
Bienville 3,680 48.83% 3,705 49.16% 90 1.19% 62 0.82% -25 -0.33% 7,537
Bossier 20,807 69.16% 9,035 30.03% 135 0.45% 108 0.36% 11,772 39.13% 30,085
Caddo 54,498 57.73% 39,204 41.53% 363 0.38% 337 0.36% 15,294 16.20% 94,402
Calcasieu 29,649 46.25% 33,932 52.94% 302 0.47% 217 0.34% -4,283 -6.69% 64,100
Caldwell 2,997 65.74% 1,423 31.21% 118 2.59% 21 0.46% 1,574 34.53% 4,559
Cameron 1,775 43.61% 2,257 55.45% 18 0.44% 20 0.49% -482 -11.84% 4,070
Catahoula 2,862 57.82% 1,916 38.71% 137 2.77% 35 0.71% 946 19.11% 4,950
Claiborne 3,756 53.60% 3,158 45.07% 60 0.86% 33 0.47% 598 8.53% 7,007
Concordia 5,037 57.49% 3,461 39.50% 201 2.29% 62 0.71% 1,576 17.99% 8,761
DeSoto 5,022 47.76% 5,366 51.03% 82 0.78% 46 0.44% -344 -3.27% 10,516
East Baton Rouge 86,791 58.81% 59,270 40.16% 628 0.43% 895 0.61% 27,521 18.65% 147,584
East Carroll 1,536 44.39% 1,809 52.28% 88 2.54% 27 0.78% -273 -7.89% 3,460
East Feliciana 3,537 48.06% 3,659 49.72% 99 1.35% 64 0.87% -122 -1.66% 7,359
Evangeline 7,437 48.29% 7,693 49.95% 186 1.21% 84 0.55% -256 -1.66% 15,400
Franklin 5,520 62.20% 3,043 34.29% 262 2.95% 50 0.56% 2,477 27.91% 8,875
Grant 4,402 60.76% 2,628 36.27% 172 2.37% 43 0.59% 1,774 24.49% 7,245
Iberia 15,438 54.49% 12,166 42.94% 598 2.11% 129 0.46% 3,272 11.55% 28,331
Iberville 5,855 39.46% 8,678 58.49% 200 1.35% 103 0.69% -2,823 -19.03% 14,836
Jackson 4,251 58.64% 2,842 39.21% 102 1.41% 54 0.74% 1,409 19.43% 7,249
Jefferson 110,942 66.68% 53,035 31.88% 1,783 1.07% 612 0.37% 57,907 34.80% 166,372
Jefferson Davis 5,851 45.74% 6,799 53.15% 80 0.63% 61 0.48% -948 -7.41% 12,791
Lafayette 36,648 59.44% 24,133 39.14% 515 0.84% 362 0.59% 12,515 20.30% 61,658
Lafourche 16,152 50.19% 15,013 46.65% 841 2.61% 173 0.54% 1,139 3.54% 32,179
LaSalle 4,559 71.69% 1,622 25.51% 149 2.34% 29 0.46% 2,937 46.18% 6,359
Lincoln 8,853 60.40% 5,427 37.03% 255 1.74% 122 0.83% 3,426 23.37% 14,657
Livingston 15,779 61.29% 9,659 37.52% 217 0.84% 88 0.34% 6,120 23.77% 25,743
Madison 2,334 47.53% 2,416 49.20% 123 2.50% 38 0.77% -82 -1.67% 4,911
Morehouse 7,335 60.43% 4,496 37.04% 251 2.07% 57 0.47% 2,839 23.39% 12,139
Natchitoches 7,224 52.60% 6,151 44.79% 278 2.02% 80 0.58% 1,073 7.81% 13,733
Orleans 64,763 35.24% 116,851 63.58% 1,233 0.67% 953 0.52% -52,088 -28.34% 183,800
Ouachita 33,858 67.32% 15,429 30.68% 703 1.40% 302 0.60% 18,429 36.64% 50,292
Plaquemines 6,084 59.11% 3,997 38.83% 163 1.58% 49 0.48% 2,087 20.28% 10,293
Pointe Coupee 4,333 39.64% 6,308 57.71% 151 1.38% 138 1.26% -1,975 -18.07% 10,930
Rapides 29,977 61.31% 17,928 36.67% 743 1.52% 243 0.50% 12,049 24.64% 48,891
Red River 2,266 49.41% 2,254 49.15% 48 1.05% 18 0.39% 12 0.26% 4,586
Richland 5,226 62.85% 2,833 34.07% 191 2.30% 65 0.78% 2,393 28.78% 8,315
Sabine 4,767 55.81% 3,532 41.35% 200 2.34% 42 0.49% 1,235 14.46% 8,541
St. Bernard 19,609 61.79% 11,406 35.94% 598 1.88% 123 0.39% 8,203 25.85% 31,736
St. Charles 9,685 53.82% 7,973 44.31% 259 1.44% 78 0.43% 1,712 9.51% 17,995
St. Helena 2,006 38.93% 3,013 58.47% 85 1.65% 49 0.95% -1,007 -19.54% 5,153
St. James 3,799 35.44% 6,707 62.57% 144 1.34% 69 0.64% -2,908 -27.13% 10,719
St. John the Baptist 7,464 46.02% 8,366 51.58% 276 1.70% 113 0.70% -902 -5.56% 16,219
St. Landry 15,790 44.53% 19,091 53.84% 323 0.91% 253 0.71% -3,301 -9.31% 35,457
St. Martin 7,541 41.60% 10,148 55.98% 283 1.56% 157 0.87% -2,607 -14.38% 18,129
St. Mary 11,540 51.71% 10,364 46.44% 295 1.32% 119 0.53% 1,176 5.27% 22,318
St. Tammany 38,334 69.92% 15,638 28.52% 651 1.19% 200 0.36% 22,696 41.40% 54,823
Tangipahoa 16,669 54.32% 13,527 44.08% 325 1.06% 167 0.54% 3,142 10.24% 30,688
Tensas 1,645 50.00% 1,556 47.29% 69 2.10% 20 0.61% 89 2.71% 3,290
Terrebonne 18,745 58.19% 12,686 39.38% 636 1.97% 145 0.45% 6,059 18.81% 32,212
Union 5,900 62.97% 3,210 34.26% 199 2.12% 60 0.64% 2,690 28.71% 9,369
Vermilion 9,224 41.99% 12,180 55.45% 440 2.00% 122 0.56% -2,956 -13.46% 21,966
Vernon 7,453 58.40% 4,998 39.17% 240 1.88% 70 0.55% 2,455 19.23% 12,761
Washington 9,374 51.81% 8,369 46.25% 260 1.44% 91 0.50% 1,005 5.56% 18,094
Webster 10,204 57.31% 7,434 41.75% 108 0.61% 59 0.33% 2,770 15.56% 17,805
West Baton Rouge 3,972 45.13% 4,686 53.24% 81 0.92% 62 0.70% -714 -8.11% 8,801
West Carroll 3,077 64.14% 1,607 33.50% 97 2.02% 16 0.33% 1,470 30.64% 4,797
West Feliciana 1,854 45.34% 2,146 52.48% 46 1.12% 43 1.05% -292 -7.14% 4,089
Winn 4,165 59.02% 2,699 38.25% 147 2.08% 46 0.65% 1,466 20.77% 7,057
Totals 883,702 54.27% 717,460 44.06% 18,612 1.14% 8,428 0.52% 166,242 10.21% 1,628,202

Parishes that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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[20][21]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 24 delegates allocated through congressional districts and 10 delegates allocated statewide[9]
  2. ^ Final delegate total of 41 after addition of at-large delegates at state convention[9]
  3. ^ Final delegate total of 31 after addition of at-large delegates at state convention[9]
  4. ^ Final delegate total of 31 after addition of at-large delegates at state convention[14]
  5. ^ Final delegate total of 6 after addition of at-large delegates at state convention[9]

References

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  1. ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  2. ^ Steed, Moreland & Baker 1994, p. 62.
  3. ^ a b Hadley & Stanley 1989, p. 26.
  4. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 82-83.
  5. ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 288.
  6. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 83-84.
  7. ^ a b "1988 presidential primary results in Louisiana". Secretary of State of Louisiana. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 85-86.
  9. ^ a b c d Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 86.
  10. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 83-85.
  11. ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 263.
  12. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 87.
  13. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 84.
  14. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 23.
  15. ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 295.
  16. ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 335.
  17. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. xii.
  18. ^ "1988 Presidential General Election Results – Louisiana". Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  19. ^ "LA US President Race, November 08, 1988". Our Campaigns.
  20. ^ "1984 Presidential General Election Results - Louisiana". Dave Leip's election atlas.
  21. ^ "1988 Presidential General Election Results - Louisiana". Dave Leip's election atlas.

Works cited

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