Kim Landry unseats Jason Verdigets in 23rd Judicial District Court election
Kim Landry has won the election for the 23rd Judicial District Court, defeating longtime incumbent Judge Jason Verdigets in a race that ended his 12-year tenure on the bench. According to unofficial election results reported by WAFB, Landry secured 22,867 votes, representing 51.6% of the total, while Verdigets earned 21,470 votes, or 48.4%. The margin of victory stood at 1,397 votes across the three-parish district.
The election results reflect a clear geographic split in voter preference across Ascension, Assumption, and St. James parishes. While both candidates ran as Republicans, Landry’s path to victory relied on strong performances in the larger population centers of the district. She carried both Ascension and St. James parishes, effectively neutralizing Verdigets’ dominance in Assumption Parish.
The parish-by-parish breakdown
The final tally shows how the narrow margins in certain areas ultimately decided the outcome of the districtwide race. In Ascension Parish, Landry maintained a significant lead, receiving 17,312 votes (53%) to Verdigets’ 15,582 votes (47%). The contest was notably tighter in St. James Parish, where Landry took 3,169 votes (51%) compared to 3,052 votes (49%) for Verdigets.
Verdigets found his strongest support in Assumption Parish, where he won with 2,836 votes (54%) against Landry’s 2,386 votes (46%). However, his 450-vote advantage in that parish was insufficient to offset the combined leads Landry established in the other two jurisdictions. The results were confirmed after all 103 precincts within the district reported their totals.
| Parish | Kim Landry (Votes/%) | Jason Verdigets (Votes/%) |
|---|---|---|
| Ascension | 17,312 (53%) | 15,582 (47%) |
| St. James | 3,169 (51%) | 3,052 (49%) |
| Assumption | 2,386 (46%) | 2,836 (54%) |
A transition of judicial leadership
For Verdigets, the loss marks the end of a judicial career that began in early 2015. He was first elected to the 23rd Judicial District Court in November 2014 and has served the district for 12 years. Prior to his time on the bench, his legal background included service as a felony prosecutor in the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office and experience in private practice.
Following the announcement of the results, Verdigets addressed his supporters via Facebook on Wednesday, Nov. 4, acknowledging the outcome with a message of grace toward his successor.
“Congrats to Kim Landry. I wish her well in her new role. It’s a tough one and she like every judge will need all of our prayers and support,” Verdigets wrote.
He noted that while the night was disappointing, he accepted that the voters had made their decision.
The 23rd Judicial District Court, which oversees legal matters for Ascension, Assumption, and St. James parishes, will undergo this leadership change at the start of the new year. Landry is expected to officially take office in January 2027.
