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# Freedom’s just another word
- URL: https://www.redeyebr.com/louisiana-freedom-rankings-cato-institute/
- Published: 2026-11-01T23:33:01.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T23:33:01.000Z
- Description: Louisiana is solidly red, but Cato’s freedom grades span the spectrum.
- Author: JR Ball

When elections are the topic, Louisiana is as red as a state gets. Switch the subject to freedom and the libertarian Cato Institute says we’re more of a purple haze.

**Why it matters:** Freedom allegedly fuels red-state politics, but after [scoring 97 policies](https://www.cato.org/freedom-50-states/2026/results-and-summary?ref=redeyebr.com), Cato gives Louisiana a C grade, ranking 18th in the country.

**The map problem:** Cato’s data shows why it’s problematic to assume red states will be strong on economic freedom while blue states will lead on personal freedom. Louisiana’s card shows why.

- Cato’s Scott Lincicome wrote in *The Washington Post* that only 14 states land in a classic Republican or Democratic quadrant.
- A red state is supposed to ace economic freedom and flunk personal freedom, yet Louisiana gets a C in both: 20th on economic and 17th on personal.

**Louisiana’s card:** Louisiana’s grades resemble those of a first-semester college freshman, with an A, two Fs and many Bs and Cs in between. Worth noting: Cato’s state grades measure policies and statutes on the books, not how politicians behave—which helps explain the head-scratching A-grade in speech protections.

- Speech and association—**A** (3rd).
- Occupational freedom—**B** (6th).
- Firearm freedom—**B** (10th).
- Recreational freedom—**B** (10th).
- Tech and consumer freedom—**B** (18th).
- Fiscal burden—**D** (24th).
- Education—**C** (22nd).
- Law enforcement overreach—**C** (29th).
- Housing—**F** (48th).
- Medical freedom—**F** (41st).

**Populist roots:** Louisiana’s red label is newer than its populism, which runs from Huey Long through Edwin Edwards before the state veered right with Reagan and went all in on Trump’s GOP.

- Baton Rouge and its politics don’t mirror the state, so these are statewide grades, not necessarily a read on what's happening here.

**Who’s on top:** Arizona leads Cato’s list, followed by Montana, Nevada, Florida and Idaho.

- Arizona and Montana are the only As, and neither cracked 75% in economic or personal freedom.

**Governor’s grade:** Gov. Jeff Landry, a Trump ally, grades out at C, 17th among governors in Cato’s first-ever grades for them.

- Montana’s Greg Gianforte is the only governor to earn an A.

**The bottom line:** Red tells you who wins Louisiana elections, and these grades tell you the state has a meandering freedom trail.