Opelousas, LA
Safe Republican — shifted 4.7pp toward Republicans in 2024 — 82K residents — 1 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(12) | 52.1% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(12) | 3.1% |
▶Black / African American(3) | 40.1% |
▶Asian(5) | 0.6% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(5) | 0.1% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.1% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(2) | 0.3% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.8% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 54.1% | 77.9% |
| Evangelical Protestant | 10.8% | 15.5% |
| Black Protestant | 2.0% | 2.9% |
| Other | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| Mainline Protestant | 1.2% | 1.8% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.7% | 1.0% |
| Non-religious | 30.5% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Trump+18.8 |
| 2020 | Trump+14.1 |
| 2016 | Trump+11.9 |
| 2012 | Romney+4.3 |
| 2008 | McCain+3.3 |
| 2004 | Bush+0.4 |
| 2000 | Gore+7.7 |
| 1996 | Clinton+23.6 |
| 1992 | Clinton+23.1 |
Opelousas, LA is a metro area that has a population of 81,670. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Republican with a margin of R+18.8. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 40.0% | 58.9% | R+18.8 | R+4.7 |
| 2020 | 42.2% | 56.3% | R+14.1 | R+2.2 |
| 2016 | 43.0% | 55.0% | R+11.9 | R+7.6 |
| 2012 | 47.2% | 51.6% | R+4.3 | R+1.1 |
| 2008 | 47.7% | 50.9% | R+3.3 | R+2.8 |
| 2004 | 49.4% | 49.8% | R+0.4 | R+8.1 |
| 2000 | 52.9% | 45.2% | D+7.7 | R+15.9 |
| 1996 | 58.2% | 34.6% | D+23.6 | D+0.5 |
| 1992 | 55.4% | 32.3% | D+23.1 | D+13.8 |
| 1988 | 53.8% | 44.5% | D+9.3 | D+12.3 |
| 1984 | 48.2% | 51.2% | R+3.0 | R+9.7 |
| 1980 | 52.4% | 45.7% | D+6.7 | R+14.9 |
| 1976 | 59.5% | 37.9% | D+21.6 | D+44.7 |
| 1972 | 33.8% | 57.0% | R+23.2 | R+45.2 |
| 1968 | 36.0% | 13.9% | D+22.1 | D+18.2 |
| 1964 | 52.0% | 48.0% | D+3.9 | R+53.1 |
| 1960 | 72.2% | 15.2% | D+57.0 | D+64.0 |
| 1956 | 44.5% | 51.6% | R+7.1 | R+1.7 |
| 1952 | 47.3% | 52.7% | R+5.4 | R+9.9 |
| 1948 | 15.2% | 10.7% | D+4.5 | — |
What defines Opelousas, LA?
Opelousas, LA has been trending Republican — 15pp redder over the last 4 presidential cycles. It has a plurality-minority electorate (48% nonwhite) where demographic change is reshaping the political map.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Opelousas, LA
| County | Pop. | Margin | Dem | Rep | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Landry | 82K | R+18.8 | 14,833 | 21,812 | 37,043 | 100.0% |
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Has voted Republican in the last 5 presidential elections
- Shifted 14.5 points toward Republicans over the last 4 elections
- College attainment is 15% — 18pp below the national average. Similar education levels correlate with Republican lean nationally
Who Lives Here
| Group | Opelousas, LA | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(12) | 52.1% | 57.4% |
▶Black / African American(3) | 40.1% | 12.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.8% | 4.0% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(12) | 3.1% | 19.3% |
▶Asian(5) | 0.6% | 6.0% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(2) | 0.3% | 0.2% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(5) | 0.1% | 0.9% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.1% | 0.9% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: +57.9pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Catholic-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Democratic-leaning urban and suburban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54.1% | 77.9% | — | — | |
| 10.8% | 15.5% | — | — | |
| 2.0% | 2.9% | — | — | |
| 1.3% | 1.9% | — | — | |
| 1.2% | 1.8% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.7% | 1.0% | — | — |
Non-religiousPopulation | 30.5% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Opelousas, LA metro area? 81,670 residents across 1 counties.
Demographics
15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 18pp below the national average. Places with similar education levels vote R+28 on average nationally.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
Turnout in Opelousas, LA
How competitive is Opelousas, LA?
Do voters in Opelousas, LA split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Senate | R+14.1 | R+39.1 | 25.0pp |