Julie O’Donoghue

Julie O'Donoghue

[email protected]

Julie O’Donoghue is a senior reporter for the Louisiana Illuminator and producer of the Louisiana Illuminator podcast. She’s received awards from the Virginia Press Association and Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press. Julie covered state government and politics for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune for six years. She’s also covered government and politics in Missouri, Virginia and Washington D.C. Julie is a proud D.C. native and Washington Capitals hockey fan. She and her partner, Jed, live in Baton Rouge. She has two stepchildren, Quinn and Steven.

Black voter turnout higher than normal for Louisiana’s first day of early voting
Louisiana

Black voter turnout higher than normal for Louisiana’s first day of early voting

Oct 22, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Black voters made up a larger share of participants on Louisiana’s first day of early voting than they have in almost every other election over the past 18 years, making Democrats cautiously optimistic about the U.S. Senate race. Secretary of...
All you need to know about Louisiana’s property tax constitutional amendments
Louisiana

All you need to know about Louisiana’s property tax constitutional amendments

Oct 21, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
This report has been updated to include the Louisiana Realtors association’s position on the amendments. Louisiana voters will consider 10 constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, half of which would change the amount of property tax collected that fund...
Louisiana agencies spent $3.2B with nonprofits over 4 years
Louisiana

Louisiana agencies spent $3.2B with nonprofits over 4 years

Oct 20, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana allocated $3.2 billion in state funding to nonprofit groups over a four-year period that straddled Govs. John Bel Edwards and Jeff Landry’s time in office, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor report released this month. The auditor’s report tracked...
Louisiana early voting takes place from Tuesday to Oct. 27 (minus Sunday)
Louisiana

Louisiana early voting takes place from Tuesday to Oct. 27

Oct 19, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Louisiana’s early voting period opens Tuesday and closes a week later on Oct. 27 for the Nov. 3 election. Early voting locations will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Sunday. Every parish has at least...
Louisiana opens enrollment for 274,000 Medicaid recipients who must switch plans
Louisiana

Louisiana opens enrollment for 274,000 Medicaid recipients who must switch plans

Oct 15, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
The Louisiana Department of Health opened a monthlong enrollment period Thursday for people in the Healthy Blue Medicaid program to switch to another plan for 2027. Enrollment will end Nov. 16. Healthy Blue, offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of...
Most of 6th District field sees need for more petrochemical industry limits
Louisiana

Most of 6th District field sees need for more petrochemical industry limits

Oct 14, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
GONZALES – Nearly every candidate running in Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District said the local petrochemical industry needs to be reined in more during an event Tuesday night. Republicans Monique Appeaning, Larry Davis and Michael Mebruer joined Democrats Chauna Banks, Pat...
Medicaid provider might end its coverage for Ochsner network, affecting 70,000
Louisiana

Medicaid provider might end its coverage for Ochsner network, affecting 70,000

Oct 13, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
One of Louisiana’s four remaining Medicaid plans might no longer cover treatment at the state’s largest healthcare network, Ochsner Health System, after Dec. 1, potentially affecting 70,000 people. Louisiana Healthcare Connections, a private Medicaid plan the Centene Corp. manages, told...
Louisiana’s congressional candidates float ideas for affordable gas, groceries
Louisiana

Louisiana’s congressional candidates float ideas for affordable gas, groceries

Oct 12, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
Voters are focusing on the high price of gas, groceries and other affordability issues ahead of the Nov. 3 election, according to political experts and national polling. “With $4/gallon gas and $6/gallon diesel, cost of living and affordability are first...
6 takeaways from Louisiana’s 6th District candidates forum
Louisiana

6 takeaways from Louisiana’s 6th District candidates forum

Oct 10, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
State Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, was the sole defender of some of President Donald Trump’s more controversial policies as the only Republican taking part in a candidates’ forum Friday night for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District candidates. Democrats Pat Forbes...
Why the Louisiana Democratic Party switched its endorsement in 5th District race
Louisiana

Why the Louisiana Democratic Party switched its endorsement in 5th District race

Oct 08, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue
More details have emerged behind the Louisiana Democratic Party’s decision to rescind its original endorsement for the open 5th Congressional District seat. After first giving its official support to state Rep. Pat Moore of Monroe, the party is now backing...
AI apocalypse? Most Louisiana candidates for Congress stay vague on regulation
Louisiana

AI apocalypse? Most Louisiana candidates for Congress stay vague on regulation

Oct 05, 2026
Julie O'Donoghue Elise Plunk
Most candidates running for Congress in Louisiana agree there should be some federal regulations placed on artificial intelligence. But at this point they are mostly offering generalities, without providing specifics about any limitations they would favor. Their remarks come amid...
Data centers drive debate in Louisiana’s congressional races
Louisiana

Data centers drive debate in Louisiana’s congressional races

Oct 05, 2026
Elise Plunk Julie O'Donoghue
As data centers pop up across the country, debate around what role elected officials have, if any, on monitoring and restricting their resource use and development has become part of the political conversation. In Louisiana, Democrats running for Congress in...