Nick Albares ends campaign, leaving Democrats Davis and Crockett left in US Senate runoff race
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - One of the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Louisiana has officially ended his campaign.
Nick Albares announced that he has dropped out, leaving Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett to face off in a runoff election.
During the May 16 election, Davis received 47 percent of the vote, while Crocket and Albares each got 26 percent of the vote. Only about 280 votes separated Crockett and Albares.
Albares had until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to seek a recount. According to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office, the effort would have cost up to $750 in each parish where the recount was requested.
The candidate said that despite his decision to wrap up his campaign effort, his mission to support his community will continue.
“While votes are still being tabulated and results are currently unofficial, I’ve decided today that it is time to end my campaign for U.S. Senate and continue my work for dignity, solutions, and results through other means,” Albares said. “I’m grateful to everyone who supported this campaign which was rooted in building an authentic community.”
In a statement, Albares highlighted some of the reasons behind his effort to seek a seat in the U.S. Senate.
“Our campaign was focused on the dignity of every person, lowering healthcare costs, protecting Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of families who rely on it, ending the corruption in Washington that is driving up costs, and ensuring that billionaires pay their fair share,” Albares explained.
On the Republican side, Congresswoman Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming are facing off in a runoff. They each gained enough support to oust current Sen. Bill Cassidy from his seat.
The Democratic and Republican U.S. Senate runoff elections are set for June 27, 2026.
Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.
Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Watch the latest WAFB news and weather now.