NEW ORLEANS — Donald Trump kept Louisiana in the Republican fold Tuesday, winning the state’s eight electoral votes in his presidential bid.

History was on his side entering the race. Louisiana hadn’t given its electoral votes to a Democrat since Bill Clinton and Al Gore won 52 percent of the vote 20 years ago.

True, Democrats managed to win the Louisiana governor’s race last year, but that’s the only statewide office they hold. Historical voting trends in the state favored Republicans and Hillary Clinton was considered a longshot.

“I think it’s time we get some fresh blood in there and get rid of the establishment that’s been in Washington, D.C., for a long time and basically have not taken care of the normal folks out there,” Johnny Licciardi, 49, said at his polling place in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie.

Bill Smith, 59, voting in Denham Springs said Trump’s visit to the town after it was inundated by about 10 feet of water in August was “solid confirmation” that he’s the right choice.

“Easiest choice I’ve ever had to make because of his opponent. She should be in jail,” Smith said.

Sophie Woodruff, a 31-year-old immigration attorney, said after voting for Clinton in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans that she’s happy Clinton addressed immigration during the debates.

“Within the first 100 days she’s going to have an immigration plan. And that immigration plan isn’t going to be just build a wall that Mexico will pay for. I work specifically with children who have crossed without their parents in order to reunite with their families here in the United States. And every single day I see the face of America’s next generation,” she said.

The fiercely contested 2000 presidential race wasn’t much of a contest in Louisiana: George W. Bush got 53 percent of the vote against Gore. Since then, Republican presidential candidates have received from 57 percent to 59 percent.

Louisiana’s strong GOP trend and low number of electoral votes at stake — eight — make the state anything but a presidential battleground. Clinton and Trump both visited during primary season, but the state has been paid little attention since the nominations were wrapped up.

“It’s been par for the course in Louisiana for a presidential election year. We’re pretty much an afterthought,” said Jason Dore, executive director of the Louisiana Republican Party.

His Democratic Party counterpart agreed. “We’re not a battleground state,” Stephen Handwerk said.

Clinton’s running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, spoke to the Progressive National Baptist Convention in New Orleans after the nominations were secured.

Louisiana voters had more than two choices for president: The ballot also included the Green Party ticket of Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka, the Libertarian ticket of Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, and nine other choices representing other groups.New-Orleans-voting