The politics of the Opelousas, LA Metro Area are diverse and complex. The area is represented at both local and state levels by a variety of elected officials from different political parties. On the local level, the mayor and city council are responsible for making decisions about local infrastructure, services and other issues that affect residents. At the state level, members of both houses of the Louisiana Legislature represent this area. These legislators work to pass laws that benefit their constituents, as well as address regional problems such as economic development, public safety and health concerns. In addition to these elected officials there are also numerous community activists who help shape Opelousas' political landscape through their advocacy on a variety of issues. All together this unique mix of individuals helps form a vibrant and engaging political system in the Opelousas Metro Area.
The political climate in Opelousas Metro Area is somewhat conservative.
In Opelousas Metro Area 42.2% of the people voted Democrat in the last presidential election, 56.3% voted for the Republican Party, and the remaining 1.5% voted Independent.
In the last Presidential election, the Opelousas metro area remained strongly Republican, 56.3% to 42.2%.
The Opelousas metro area voted Republican in the last five Presidential elections, after voting Democratic in 2000.
The BestPlaces liberal/conservative index
Opelousas Metro Area is somewhat conservative.
Louisiana is moderately conservative.
The BestPlaces liberal/conservative index is based on recent voting in national elections, federal campaign contributions by local residents, and consumer personality profiles.
VoteWord™
Displaying 20 years of Presidential voting, visualized in one word.
Opelousas, Louisiana: d r r r R R
How It Works:
Here at BestPlaces, we were looking at the voting patterns since the 2000 election and realized that we could express the results of each election as one letter. R if the Republican Party candidate won, D for the Democrat and I for the Independent. The six elections (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) would be expressed as six-letter word (R R D R R).
Then we went a little further and added the dimension of magnitude. If the difference of victory was greater than 10 percent, the letter is upper case, and lower case if the difference was less than 10 percent. This allows us to see interesting voting patterns at just a glance.
Here's the VoteWord for Iowa d r d d r. In the last six elections the state has been closely contested, voting narrowly for the Republican Party candidate in 2016 and 2020 after voting for the Democratic Party in 2008 and 2012. Virginia (r r d d d D) has voted for the Democratic Party in the last four elections.
Individual Campaign Contributions in Opelousas Metro Area
In the last 4 years (2018-2021), there were 401 contributions totaling $41,991 to the Democratic Party and liberal campaigns, averaging $105 per contribution.
In the last 4 years, there were 662 contributions totaling $353,053 to the Republican Party and conservative campaigns, averaging $533 per contribution.
(source: Federal Election Commission)