Close of Louisiana Early Voting Shows Trump Advantage

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – As early voting concludes in deep red Louisiana, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump appears to have turned out a record number of voters, leaving an apparent advantage over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

More than 515,000 Louisiana residents voted in early voting, shattering the 2012 presidential election record where more than 356,000 residents showed up to the polls. Overall, the early voting record was a 51 percent increase from 2012, according to analysis from JMC Louisiana.

Though two of the most liberal-leaning parishes in the state had a record number of early voters, parishes like the pro-Trump region of St. Tammany are giving the New York business mogul a record-high advantage over Clinton.

Some 70 percent of early voters were white, while 27 percent were black. In 2012, early voting numbers were considerably better for Democrats, when 64 percent of voters were white and 33 percent of voters were black.

About 44 percent of early voters were Democrats, while 39 percent were Republicans, a drop in early voting turnout for Democrats who showed up by 51 percent in 2012 to re-elect President Obama.

Meanwhile, Republicans gained ground this year, as their early voting jumped six percentage points since 2012.

In the last few days of early voting, enthusiasm to get to the polls for Democrats dropped, with their turnout dropping from 45 percent turnout to 44 percent turnout.

In the most pro-Trump parish in the state, St. Tammany, nearly 44,000 residents voted, while Orleans Parish had the most turnout with almost 49,000 ballots cast.

As Breitbart Texas previously reported, in the most recent statewide presidential poll, Trump held a 20 point lead over Clinton, garnering 54 percent to the former Secretary of State’s 34.

Even in the liberal-leaning New Orleans metro area, Trump is tied with Clinton, both with 42 percent.

In the same poll, 88 percent of Republicans say they were voting for Trump, but 32 percent of Democrats said they were also voting for the New York mogul.

Only 57 percent of Democrats said they would vote for Clinton on Election Day, while just three percent of Republicans said the same.

John Binder is a contributor for Breitbart Texas. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.