(The Center Square) − Public sentiment in Louisiana is showing signs of improvement, according to the 2025 Louisiana Survey released Monday by Louisiana State University.
While concerns over the economy, crime, and education remain front and center, more residents say the state is headed in the right direction — a notable turnaround from previous years of deep pessimism.
“This year, we’re seeing signs of optimism,” said Michael Henderson, Ph.D., director of the Louisiana Survey. “It’s a modest shift, but a meaningful one, given how entrenched negative sentiment has been in recent years.”
The annual survey, which includes both telephone and online responses from more than 1,000 Louisiana residents, is designed to track public opinion on state government, quality of life, and key policy debates.
Just two years ago, pessimism about the direction of the state hit record highs, with 66% of telephone respondents in 2022 and 68% of online respondents in 2023 saying Louisiana was on the wrong track.
In this year’s survey, those numbers dropped significantly — now just 50% of online respondents say the state is heading in the wrong direction, with the rest saying it’s on the right path. Among telephone respondents, only 47% now say Louisiana is heading the wrong way.
The shift is driven largely by Republicans, whose negative views in 2023 have given way to greater optimism. In fact, the percentage of Republicans who think the state is heading in the wrong direction dropped by about 50 points in both versions of the survey. Independents also showed some improvement in mood, while Democrats’ outlook worsened — though not enough to offset the gains among Republicans.
Confidence in state government has also grown, rising 14 percentage points since 2022. In the 2025 online survey, 46% of respondents now say they are somewhat or very confident in the state’s ability to address their concerns, up from 32% three years ago. The telephone version saw similar growth.
When asked to name the most important problem facing Louisiana, the top answer was the economy. In the online survey, 27% of participants cited it as their top concern, followed by crime (12%) and education (10%). In the telephone survey, education and crime tied for second place behind the economy.
The criminal justice system also remains a key issue. A majority of respondents — 54% — say Louisiana’s system is not tough enough, though 83% of online respondents and 89% of telephone respondents support alternatives to prison for non-violent offenders, such as rehabilitation programs.
The survey’s findings arrive as lawmakers debate major tax and spending proposals at the state capitol. Majorities of both Republicans and Democrats say Louisiana’s sales and income taxes are too high. But many are also open to spending more in key areas. Large majorities support increased investment in roads and K-12 education, and a majority say they would support tax hikes if needed to fund those areas.
A majority also backs raising pay for public school teachers — even if it means paying more in taxes. Support was also strong for policies that help homeowners make their properties more resilient: More than 75% of respondents favor using state funds to help residents strengthen their roofs against hurricanes and severe weather.
There’s also notable support for school choice measures: Most respondents approve of the state providing funds to help families cover educational expenses, including private school tuition.
The survey shows continued public backing for expanding oil and gas drilling offshore, as well as increasing the state’s use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Nuclear power, by contrast, remains unpopular among residents.
Insurance remains a sore spot for many Louisianians. About two-thirds of those with homeowners insurance said their premiums rose in the last year. Roughly half of those who sought new coverage said they had difficulty getting it, and about one in ten said their insurer cancelled their policy during the past year.
This article was originally published at www.thecentersquare.com
