April 9, 2026
RE: Louisiana Statewide Voter Survey — Affordability, Worker Protections, and Legislative Priorities
The results of a survey of Louisiana voters that was conducted April 2 – 8, 2006 reveals a clear and consistent message to state legislators: voters want action on affordability and cost-of-living — not legislation that restricts the rights of working people. Across party lines, voters are united in their desire to protect worker protections and deeply skeptical of any elected official who moves to weaken them.
AFFORDABILITY IS THE DOMINANT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY
When asked to identify the highest priority for Louisiana legislators, voters ranked affordability and cost-of-living first — far ahead of any other issue, and dramatically ahead of any interest in weakening worker protections.
Top Legislative Priorities
- Affordability / Cost-of-living – 35%
- Economy / Jobs – 31%
- Property and Auto Insurance – 19%
- Infrastructure – 11%
- Weakening Worker Protections – 4%
The message is unambiguous: voters are feeling the squeeze of rising costs and expect their legislators to focus on relief. Affordability and jobs together account for 66% of voter priorities — a commanding mandate for economic legislation. By contrast, weakening worker protections ranks dead last, supported by just 4% of respondents as a top priority.
VOTERS STRONGLY OPPOSE WEAKENING WORKER PROTECTIONS
On every question related to worker rights, Louisiana voters sent a decisive message opposing restrictions on public sector workers.
Should the legislature weaken Louisiana’s employment protection laws for public sector workers?
- No, do not weaken employment protections – 62%
- Yes, weaken employment protections – 38%
Should public sector workers continue to have the freedom to contribute a portion of their paychecks to their union?
- Yes, workers should retain this freedom – 77%
- No, restrict contributions to unions – 23%
Three in four voters support preserving the right of public sector workers to make voluntary union contributions — a figure that reflects broad, cross-cutting consensus on this issue.
WEAKENING WORKER RIGHTS CARRIES SIGNIFICANT ELECTORAL RISK
74% of voters say they would be LESS LIKELY to support an elected official who helped weaken workers’ rights. Only 26% say they would be MORE LIKELY to support such an official.
This is not a close call. By a nearly 3-to-1 margin, voters say that weakening worker rights would make them less supportive of the legislators responsible. The electoral consequences of anti-worker legislation are clear and substantial.
CONCLUSION
The data from this survey tell a consistent story. Louisiana voters:
- Prioritize affordability and economic relief above all other legislative concerns
- Strongly oppose legislation that would weaken employment protections for public sector workers
- Overwhelmingly support preserving the right of workers to contribute to their unions
- Would punish at the ballot box any elected official who votes to weaken workers’ rights
Legislators who focus on cost-of-living relief and protect worker rights are aligned with the clear will of Louisiana voters. Those who pursue anti-worker legislation do so against the wishes of nearly three quarters of their constituents — and face a significant electoral backlash.