Lead
Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez won Saturday’s special election for Louisiana House District 60, defeating Republican Brad Daigle and taking the seat vacated by Chad Brown. Martinez, an Iberville Parish Council member since 2023, captured 62% of the vote — 5,159 of 8,328 ballots cast — with results still unofficial pending certification by the Louisiana Secretary of State. Her margin widened after early-vote returns and as additional precincts reported. The outcome fills the vacancy created when Brown left the seat in November to accept an executive appointment.
Key Takeaways
- Chasity Verret Martinez (D) won the District 60 special election with 62% of the vote, totaling 5,159 of 8,328 ballots counted.
- Republican challenger Brad Daigle, a small-business owner and Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission member, was the runner-up.
- All results are unofficial until certified by the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office.
- The seat opened in November after Rep. Chad Brown resigned to become commissioner of the Department of Alcohol and Tobacco Control under Gov. Jeff Landry.
- Brown had represented the district for about 10 years and faced term limits that would have ended his legislative service in January 2028.
- District 60 is politically mixed: it backed Donald Trump in his three presidential bids but supported Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2019.
- Martinez’s early-voting lead expanded as precincts reported later tallies, indicating strength among absentee/early voters.
Background
District 60 covers parts of Iberville and neighboring parishes and has a history of split-ticket voting that complicates simple partisan labels. While the area supported Donald Trump across his three presidential campaigns, it also backed Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2019, demonstrating a constituency that can swing between parties depending on the race and candidate profile. Demographic shifts, local economic concerns and parish-level issues such as river commerce and infrastructure have shaped voter priorities over recent cycles.
Chasity Verret Martinez was elected to the Iberville Parish Council in 2023 and campaigned on local advocacy and constituent service. The vacancy in the state House occurred in November when Chad Brown left the Legislature to accept a state appointment as commissioner for the Department of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, a move announced by the governor’s office. Brown had served roughly a decade in the seat; colleagues noted his search for a post as his legislative term-limit deadline approached in January 2028.
Main Event
Voting in the special election concluded Saturday with Martinez building an early advantage in returns reported from early-voting centers. As more precincts posted results, her lead held and grew, culminating in the 62% share reported from the 8,328 ballots cast. Local election officials cautioned that tallies remain unofficial until the Secretary of State completes its certification process, a routine step after special contests.
Brad Daigle ran as the Republican nominee, highlighting his small-business background and service on the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission. Despite those credentials and the district’s history of supporting Republican presidential candidates, Daigle was unable to overcome Martinez’s margin, which approached a nearly two-to-one ratio. Turnout in the special was modest compared with general elections, a typical pattern for off-cycle contests that can favor better-organized local campaigns.
Martinez will occupy the District 60 seat previously held by Brown and will serve the remainder of the current term. Her campaign emphasized local representation for Iberville and nearby Assumption parishes, framing the win as a return to neighborhood-focused advocacy at the state level. The office she fills has influence on regional policy issues including commerce along the Mississippi River, parish-level economic development, and state regulatory matters.
Analysis & Implications
Martinez’s decisive victory in a district that swings between parties suggests local factors and candidate familiarity played a central role. Her service on the Iberville Parish Council likely bolstered name recognition and provided a base of voter contacts important in a special election with lower turnout. For Democrats, this result can be presented as evidence that locally rooted campaigns remain competitive even in areas that trend Republican in national contests.
For Republicans, the loss underscores the challenge of translating national-level strength into wins in localized races where community ties and ground organization matter. Brad Daigle’s profile as a business leader and port commissioner did not produce enough crossover support; the results may prompt a reassessment of candidate recruitment and outreach in similar districts ahead of larger statewide contests. Strategists on both sides will watch whether this outcome represents a short-term anomaly or part of a broader regional pattern.
At the state level, Martinez’s addition to the House shifts the composition of the chamber only marginally, but it matters for committee assignments and local project advocacy. Her priorities and committee placements will determine how quickly she influences legislative agendas that affect transportation, commerce and parish-funded initiatives. The appointment that created this vacancy — Brown’s move to the Department of Alcohol and Tobacco Control — also changes the staffing and leadership dynamic within the agency charged with licensing and regulation.
Comparison & Data
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chasity Verret Martinez | Democrat | 5,159 | 62% |
| Brad Daigle | Republican | 3,169 | 38% |
The table above summarizes the unofficial returns reported after all precincts had posted results on election night. Special elections typically record lower participation than general elections; that dynamic can amplify the impact of early-voting programs and concentrated get-out-the-vote efforts. Comparing this special-election turnout to prior general-election totals would give better context for long-term trends in District 60.
Reactions & Quotes
“Ready to vote for a leader with a history of showing up and speaking up for our people? Vote for a champion for Iberville and Assumption parishes today.”
Martinez campaign (Facebook post)
“He had been looking for a landing spot,” colleagues said regarding Chad Brown’s move from the Legislature to a state appointment.
The Advocate (reporting colleagues)
Unconfirmed
- Whether turnout patterns in this special election (early-vote strength for Martinez) will hold in the next general election remains to be seen; that pattern is not yet established.
- Colleagues’ characterization that Chad Brown was actively seeking a new position as his term-limit date approached is based on reporting and has not been independently confirmed by Brown in a public statement.
Bottom Line
Martinez’s win officially restores representation for District 60 and hands the Democrats a clear victory in a district with mixed partisan history. The margin — 62% to 38% in unofficial returns — signals effective local campaigning and organizational strength in a low-turnout special. Certification by the Louisiana Secretary of State will formalize the result, after which Martinez will assume legislative responsibilities and likely seek committee roles that align with her district’s priorities.
Longer term, the race highlights how local reputation and targeted outreach can override broader partisan leanings in swing areas. Observers should watch how Martinez governs, the priorities she advances for Iberville and Assumption parishes, and whether Republican strategists adjust tactics in similar districts ahead of future state and federal contests.
Sources
- The Advocate — Local news reporting on the election results and background.
- Louisiana Secretary of State — Official state office responsible for certifying election results (official).
- Louisiana Department of Alcohol and Tobacco Control — State agency to which Chad Brown was appointed (official).
- Office of the Governor, Jeff Landry — Governor’s office announcing executive appointments and staffing (official).