Denham SpringsNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Denham Springs Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 9 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 6 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Deadline to request an absentee ballot (Oct 30): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters citywide choose one mayor from three candidates and five council members from six candidates; council seats are not divided into districts.

Deadline to request an absentee ballot · Oct 30

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

U.S. House: all candidates run on one ballot. If no one gets more than half the vote, the top two meet in a runoff on Dec 12.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

What the next council decides

01A citywide master plan3 sourced facts

Where it standsAll three mayoral candidates say Denham Springs needs a comprehensive master plan to guide development, infrastructure and services.

What's on the tableWhether the next mayor and council fund and adopt a master plan, and what it covers.

02New development and infrastructure4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council approved new sewer impact fees in August 2026 to pay for wastewater treatment capacity for new development.

What's on the tableHow fast the city approves new subdivisions and commercial projects, and how growth pays for roads, drainage and sewer.

03Flooding and flood insurance2 sourced facts

Where it standsA decade after the August 2016 flood, the city is still applying for grants to elevate flood-prone homes.

What's on the tableWhich drainage projects the city funds and how it works with parish and state agencies on regional flood control.

04Neglected properties2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council condemned a house at 409 MLK Drive in October 2026 after a minimum housing inspection and a Board of Housing Appeals review.

What's on the tableWhat tools the city uses on properties whose owners fail to maintain them.

05Traffic, sidewalks and annexation3 sourced facts

Where it standsCandidates cite congestion on Range Avenue, Highway 190 and near the I-12 interchange, and a planned diverging diamond interchange at I-12.

What's on the tableWhich road, sidewalk and annexation projects the city pursues and how it pays its share.

2 notes on these statements

All five council seats are on the ballot, and Jim Gilbert is running for mayor rather than for the council. Louisiana Secretary of State Candidate Inquiry: Livingston Parish, Nov. 3, 2026 election

Ben Harris chose not to attend a forum where John Cavalier and Jim Gilbert debated traffic, flooding and master plans. WBRZ · Sep 1, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. What should come first as Denham Springs grows?

  2. 2. Should the 39-lot Rivendell Acres subdivision near Hatchell Lane go forward?

  3. 3. How should the city pay for more sewer treatment capacity?

  4. 4. How should the city handle persistently neglected properties?

  5. 5. Should the city adopt a Complete Streets ordinance so roads serve walkers and cyclists too?

  6. 6. Should Denham Springs annex more land?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted2 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 5 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

  • The City Council has five members, each elected by popular vote to a four-year term. City of Denham Springs
  • The council exercises its legislative powers under the Lawrason Act. City of Denham Springs
  • Under the Lawrason Act the mayor presides at council meetings and casts the deciding vote when the council is equally divided. Louisiana R.S. 33
  • Mayor Gerard Landry, in office since 2014, is not seeking reelection; if no mayoral candidate wins a majority, the top two meet in a Dec. 12 runoff. The Advocate · Aug 13, 2026

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