The Last Primary: The general election nominees are still not known in Louisiana's 2nd and 4th Congressional Districts following the first round of primaries delayed by Hurricane Gustav.
Unlike the loud and aggressive challengers two years ago, a more sedate group of Democrats offered themselves as an alternative to indicted U.S. Representative William J. Jefferson (D-LA). The result was that Jefferson received barely more than one-quarter of the vote. Fortunately for him, his run-off opponent will be former news anchor Helena Moreno (D-LA) who is white. The run-off election will be held on November 4, 2008, the same day as the general election for President. Barack H. Obama's (D-IL) candidacy is expected to increase participation among African-American voters in this predominately minority district.
District Attorney Paul J. Carmouche (D-LA) was unable to avoid a runoff primary after receiving only 47% of the vote in a field of four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in Louisiana's 4th District. Carmouche was hoping to be able to hoard his resources while the Republicans hoping to succeed retiring U.S. Representative James O. McCrery, III (R-LA) were forced into a runoff. Fewer than 120 votes separated former Webster Parish Coroner John Fleming (R-LA) and business executive Chris Gorman (R-LA). Attorney Jeff R. Thompson (R-LA) was eliminated from the Republican runoff after getting approximately 30% of the vote in the three-way contest. Retired Army Colonel Willie Banks Jr. (D-LA) will face-off with Carmouche for the Democratic nomination. The eventual nominees will be joined by health care worker Gerard J. Bowen, Jr., (I-LA) and restaurant owner Chester T. "Catfish" Kelley (I-LA) in a general election to be held on December 6. Just as the increase participation by African-American voters are expected to help Bill Jefferson, it will hurt the eventual Democratic nominee in Louisiana's 4th District. African-American voters coming out to vote in November might not reappear a month.
Two other congressional primaries were conducted yesterday. U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander (R-LA) easily overcame a primary challenge from conservative activist Andrew Clack (R-LA). Democrat Jim Harlan (D-LA) defeated retired Air Force sergeant M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza (D-LA) and will face Steve J. Scalise (R-LA) in the general election. Scalise was first elected in May to replace Piyush "Bobby" Jindal (R-LA).
The candidates in Louisiana's other five-star contest were settled without a primary. U.S. Representative Donald J. "Don" Cazayoux (D-LA) will face off against St. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and state Representative Michael Jackson, a Democrat running an independent.
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Alternative Candidate News - Three Who Are Making a Difference: Alternative political candidates rarely win elections. If they're lucky, they are credited with effecting the race and allowing an otherwise losing candidate to win with less than a majority of the vote. This election cycle, three alternative candidates are likely to be very influential. In Minnesota, former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley (Ind-MN) is pulling between ten and twenty percent of the vote away U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Democratic Senate nominee Al Franken (DFL-MN). In Florida's 13th Congressional District Jan Schneider (I-FL), who was the Democratic nominee in 2002 and 2004, could siphon enough votes to prevent Christine L. Jennings (D-FL) from winning her rematch against Freshman Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL). And in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District, Democratic state Representative Michael Jackson, who is black, decided to run against U.S. Representative Donald J. "Don" Cazayoux (D-LA) as an independent instead of seeking a rematch of his April primary defeat. Cazayoux won the special election with less than 50% of the vote. He needs the solid support of African-American voters to defeat St. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
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