Louisiana 2008 General Election

The Green Papers: Louisiana 2008 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2008. Find 2009 elections here.

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Louisiana
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
First Special Party Primary House CDs 1 & 6: Saturday 8 March 2008
Second Special Party Primary (Runoff) House CD 1 (R) & CD 6 (D & R): Saturday 5 April 2008
Special General House CDs 1 & 6: Saturday 3 May 2008
First Party Primary (postponed due to Gustov-- possibly to 4 October): Saturday 6 September 2008 (cancelled)
First Party Primary: Saturday 4 October 2008
Second Party Primary (CD 2 Dem, CD 4 Dem and Rep) / General Election (President, Senate, CDs 1,3,5,6,7): Tuesday 4 November 2008
Open General (CDs 2 and 4): Saturday 6 December 2008

Electoral Votes:	9	(1.67% of 538)
Governor:	1
Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
2002-2010 Representatives:	7	(1.61% of 435)
2000 Census:	4,480,271	(1.59% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):	3,255,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):	2,730,380
Capital:	Baton Rouge
Saturday 8 March 2008 polling hours 6:00a CST (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CST (0200 UTC).
Saturday 5 April 2008 polling hours 6:00a CDT (1100 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Saturday 3 May 2008 polling hours 6:00a CDT (1100 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Saturday 6 September 2008 polling hours 6:00a CDT (1100 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Saturday 4 October 2008 polling hours 6:00a CDT (1100 UTC) to 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 4 November 2008 polling hours 6:00a CST (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CST (0200 UTC).
Saturday 6 December 2008 polling hours 6:00a CST (1200 UTC) to 8:00p CST (0200 UTC).

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Louisiana State and Local Government

Louisiana 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

24 January 2009: Official 6 December 2008 returns.
6 December 2008: Official 4 November 2008 returns.

07 October 2008: Synchronized with Louisiana Secretary of State - Current Elections (results page here).

Saturday 4 October 2008

Louisiana First Party Primary
Returns from an official source.

9 September 2008 update: Due to Hurricane Gustav, Louisiana's Congressional First Party Primaries, originally scheduled for Saturday 6 September, are postponed to 4 October. If a Congressional primary candidate fails to win 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held 4 November and the General Election will be held on 6 December 2008. The Local, Presidential, and Senate General Elections will be held 4 November.

5 September 2008 update: Due to damage from Hurricane Gustav, Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne is recommending Louisiana's Saturday 6 September Primaries be rescheduled for 4 October. Governor Bobby Jindal and the U.S. Justice Department must approve the change.

Congressional Candidates (rules prior to Hurricane Gustav)

Congressional candidates run in a First Party Primary on the first Saturday in September with each recognized party running a slate of candidates. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, that candidate receives his or her party's nomination. Otherwise, the top two vote getters proceed to a Congressional Second Primary (a runoff) held the first Saturday in October.
At each party's discretion, voter eligibility in this partisan primary would be either closed (party members only) or modified open (party members and independents). As of June 2006, the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, and Reform parties are recogized.
If only one party candidate files in a primary, that candidate is nominated and there is no primary.
Each party's nominee along with independent candidates (qualified by petition) run in the November General Election where the candidate receiving the most votes is elected.

8 March 2008 returns from an official source.

3 May 2008 returns from an official source.



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 9 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.


		Republican	1,148,275	58.56%	Senator John Sidney McCain, III (9 Electoral Votes) • Vice President: Governor Sarah H. Palin • FEC P80002801: $399,826,076

		Democratic	782,989	39.93%	Senator Barack Hussein Obama • Vice President: Senator Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • FEC P80003338: $778,642,047

		Louisiana Taxpayers	9,368	0.48%	Congressman Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul • Vice President: Barry Goldwater, Jr. Running under the banner of "Louisiana Taxpayers Party". • FEC P80000748: $35,121,852

		Green	9,187	0.47%	former Congressman Cynthia A. McKinney • Vice President: Rosa A. Clemente • FEC P80004930: $240,360

		Independent	6,997	0.36%	Ralph Nader • Vice President: Matt Gonzalez • FEC P20000527: $4,520,160

		Constitution	2,581	0.13%	Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin • Vice President: Darrell L. Castle • FEC P80005499: $262,010

		Socialist Workers Party	735	0.04%	James E. Harris • Vice President: Alyson Kennedy. The Party's nominee, R�ger Calero, having been born in Nicaragua, does not meet the Constitutional requirements for President.

		Socialism and Liberation	354	0.02%	Gloria Estela La Riva • Vice-President: Eugene Puryear • FEC P80005572: $24,441

		Prohibition Party	275	0.01%	Gene C. Amondson • Vice President: Leroy Pletten
Total			1,960,761	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 110^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2		Democratic	Senator Mary L. Landrieu • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002, 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 4 October 2008 Primary
		Polls: Leans Democratic - Leans Democratic Senator Mary L. Landrieu

		Democratic	988,298	52.11%	Senator Mary L. Landrieu • FEC S6LA00227: $9,210,825

		Republican	867,177	45.72%	Treasurer John Neely Kennedy • FEC S4LA00065: $4,828,982

		Libertarian	18,590	0.98%	Richard Fontanesi • FEC S4LA00081: Financial report not available

		No Party Affiliation	13,729	0.72%	Jay Patel • FEC S8LA00090: Financial report not available

		Other-party nominee	8,780	0.46%	Robert Julius Stewart • FEC S8LA00082: Financial report not available
Total			1,896,574	100.00%

Class 3		Republican	Senator David Vitter • First elected: 2004. (also served in U.S. House- first elected in a special election [to fill the seat vacated by Congressman Bob Livingston]: 1999; re-elected: 2000, 2002.) • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2007, 2011. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

		Republican	Governor Piyush "Bobby" Jindal • First elected: 2007 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2011 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2007, 2011. Elected separately from Governor.

		Democratic	Lieutenant Governor "Mitch" Landrieu • First elected: 2003; re-elected: 2007 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2011

110^th U.S. House of Representatives 2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 110^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 4 Republican (3 Renominated, 1 Open); 3 Democratic (1 Undetermined, 2 Renominated)

CD 1 {map}		Republican	Congressman Stephen J. "Steve" Scalise • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected in a special election 3 May 2008 to fill the vacancy re: Congresman Piyush "Bobby" Jindal election as Governor • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 4 October 2008 Primary
		Polls: Republican Congressman Stephen J. "Steve" Scalise

		Republican	189,168	65.68%	Congressman Stephen J. "Steve" Scalise • FEC H0LA01087: $1,608,688

		Democratic	98,839	34.32%	James Kenneth Harlan • FEC H8LA01114: $2,158,629
Total			288,007	100.00%
	Congressman Piyush "Bobby" Jindal Ran for and won the gubernatorial election in 2007. He resigned his Congressional seat 14 January 2008, the day he was sworn in as Louisiana's governor. Stephen J. "Steve" Scalise was elected to this seat in a 3 May 2008 Special Election. The next regular election is Tuesday 4 November 2008.

CD 1 {map} Special Election		Republican	• Seat up for election: Saturday 3 May 2008 • Special Election

		Republican	33,867	75.13%	Congressman Stephen J. "Steve" Scalise • Received 48% in the 8 March 2008 special primary. Won the 5 April 2008 special runoff with 58%. Elected 3 May 2008 with 75% of the vote. • FEC H0LA01087: $1,608,688

		Democratic	10,142	22.50%	Gilda Werner Reed • FEC H8LA01049: $141,244

		No Party Affiliation	786	1.74%	R. A. "Skip" Galan • FEC H8LA01098: Financial report not available

		Other-party nominee	280	0.62%	Anthony "Tony G" Gentile • FEC H8LA01106: Financial report not available

		~~Democratic~~			~~M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza - lost primary~~ • FEC H4LA01113: Financial report not available

		~~Republican~~			~~state Representative Timothy G. "Tim" Burns - lost primary~~ • Received 28% in the 8 March 2008 special primary. Lost the 5 April 2008 special runoff with 42%. • FEC H8LA01056: $502,772
		~~Republican~~			~~Mayor Benjamin Owen "Ben" Morris - lost primary~~ • FEC H8LA01072: $191,762
		~~Republican~~			~~David Guyton Simpson - lost primary~~ • FEC H8LA01080: $23,244
Total			45,075	100.00%
	There was a Special First Party Primary on 8 March 2008, a Special Second Party Primary (Runoff) on 5 April 2008, and a Special General Election on 3 May 2008 to fill the vacant seat. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the 8 March First Party Primary, that candidate receives his or her party's nomination. Otherwise, the top two vote getters proceed to a 5 April Second Party Primary (runoff). In the event that runoff election is NOT necessary, the Special General will be held on 5 April 2008.

CD 2 {map}		Democratic	Congressman William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson • First elected: 1990 • Seat up for election: Saturday 6 December 2008
		Polls: Either Democratic Congressman William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson or Democratic Helena Moreno

		Republican	33,132	49.54%	Anh "Joseph" Cao • FEC H8LA02112: $242,529

		Democratic	31,318	46.83%	Congressman William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson • Received 25.31% in the 4 October Primary. Proceeded to and won the 4 November runoff with 56.76%. • FEC H0LA02119: $350,862

		Green	1,883	2.82%	Malik Rahim • FEC H8LA02120: $10,985

		Libertarian	549	0.82%	Gregory W. "Rhumbline" Kahn • FEC H6LA02207: Financial report not available

		~~Democratic~~			~~Helena Moreno - lost primary~~ • Received 19.93% in the 4 October Primary. Proceeded to but lost the 4 November runoff. • FEC H8LA02062: $349,375

		No Party Affiliation			Jerry Jacobs • FEC H8LA02138: Financial report not available
Total			66,882	100.00%
	The FBI searched Congressman Jefferson's office on Saturday 20 May 2006 regarding a bribery investigation. On 4 June 2007, Congressman Jefferson was indicted on federal charges (16 counts) of racketeering, soliciting bribes, and money-laundering. The Indictment.

CD 3 {map}		Democratic	Congressman "Charlie" Melancon, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2004 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 4 October 2008 Primary
		Polls: Democratic Congressman "Charlie" Melancon, Jr.
			Uncontested Race

		Democratic			Congressman "Charlie" Melancon, Jr. • FEC H4LA03028: $1,544,912

CD 4 {map} Open		Republican	Congressman James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III • First elected: 16 April 1988, in Special Election re: resignation of Congressman Buddy Roemer, 14 March 1988, having been elected Governor. • Seat up for election: Saturday 6 December 2008 • Open Seat - 7 December 2007: Announced he would not seek re-election in 2008.
		Polls: Leans Republican - WATCH - Leans slightly Republican
			Open Seat (no incumbent)

		Republican	44,501	48.07%	John Calvin Fleming, Jr. • Received 35.14% in the 4 October Primary. Proceeded to and won the 4 November runoff with 55.56%. • FEC H8LA04225: $1,833,027

		Democratic	44,151	47.69%	Paul J. Carmouche • Received 48.12% in the 4 October Primary. Proceeded to and won the 4 November runoff with 62.00%. • FEC H8LA04241: $1,849,102

		No Party Affiliation; (Republican)	3,245	3.51%	Chester T. "Catfish" Kelley • FEC H6LA04088: $31,473

		Other-party nominee; (Republican)	675	0.73%	Gerard J. Bowen, Jr. • FEC H8LA04274: Financial report not available

		~~Democratic~~			~~Willie Banks, Jr. - lost primary~~ • Received 22.96% in the 4 October Primary. Proceeded to but lost the 4 November runoff. • FEC H8LA04233: $121,733

		~~Republican~~			~~Chris D. Gorman - lost primary~~ • Received 34.10% in the 4 October Primary. Proceeded to but lost the 4 November runoff. • FEC H8LA04258: $2,208,530
Total			92,572	100.00%

CD 5 {map}		Republican	Congressman Rodney Alexander • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2002 as a Democrat. Switched to Republican August 2004. • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 4 October 2008 Primary
		Polls: Republican Congressman Rodney Alexander
			Uncontested Race

		Republican			Congressman Rodney Alexander • FEC H2LA05084: $911,236

CD 6 {map}		Democratic	Congressman Donald J. "Don" Cazayoux, Jr. • First elected: 3 May 2008 in a special election to file the vacancy re: the resignation of Congressman Richard Hugh Baker • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 4 October 2008 Primary
		Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic Congressman Donald J. "Don" Cazayoux, Jr.

		Republican	150,332	48.12%	state Senator William "Bill" Cassidy • FEC H8LA00017: $1,295,442

		Democratic	125,886	40.29%	Congressman Donald J. "Don" Cazayoux, Jr. • FEC H8LA06022: $2,740,163

		No Party Affiliation; (Democratic)	36,198	11.59%	state representative Michael L. Jackson • FEC H8LA06030: $217,325
Total			312,416	100.00%
	On 15 January 2008 Congressman Richard Hugh Baker, who was first elected in 1986, was named President and Chief Executive of The Managed Funds Association. The Congressman said he will resign his congressional seat on 2 February. Congressman Baker was first elected in 1986. Donald J. "Don" Cazayoux, Jr. was elected to this seat in a 3 May 2008 Special Election. The next regular election is Tuesday 4 November 2008.

CD 6 {map} Special Election		Democratic	• Seat up for election: Saturday 3 May 2008 • Special Election

		Democratic	49,702	49.42%	Congressman Donald J. "Don" Cazayoux, Jr. • Received 35% in the 8 March 2008 special primary. Won the 5 April 2008 special runoff with 57%. Elected 3 May 2008 with 49% of the vote. • FEC H8LA06022: $2,740,163

		Republican	46,746	46.48%	state Representative Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins • Received 49.86% in the 8 March 2008 special primary. Won the 5 April 2008 special runoff with 62%. • FEC H8LA06055: $962,489

		No Party Affiliation	3,718	3.70%	Ashley Heyer Casey • FEC H8LA06113: $39,044

		Other-party nominee; (Constitution)	402	0.40%	Randall T. Hayes • FEC H8LA06139: Financial report not available

		~~Democratic~~			~~Jason Maurice DeCuir - lost primary~~ • FEC H8LA06063: $136,050
		~~Democratic~~			~~Joe Delatte - lost primary~~ • FEC H8LA06071: Financial report not available
		~~Democratic~~			~~Michael L. Jackson - lost primary~~ • Received 27% in the 8 March 2008 special primary. Lost the 5 April 2008 special runoff with 40%. • FEC H8LA06030: $217,325
		~~Democratic~~			~~Andrew David "Andy" Kopplin - lost primary~~ • FEC H8LA06089: $342,225

		~~Republican~~			~~Laurinda L. Calongne - lost primary~~ • Received 25% in the 8 March 2008 special primary. Lost the 5 April 2008 special runoff with 40%. • FEC H8LA06048: $779,164
		~~Republican~~			~~Michael Cloonan - lost primary~~ • FEC H8LA06097: Financial report not available
		~~Republican~~			~~Paul B. Sawyer - lost primary~~ • FEC H8LA06105: $309,158
Total			100,568	100.00%
	There was a Special First Party Primary on 8 March 2008, a Special Second Party Primary (Runoff) on 5 April 2008, and a Special General Election on 3 May 2008 to fill the vacant seat. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the 8 March First Party Primary, that candidate receives his or her party's nomination. Otherwise, the top two vote getters proceed to a 5 April Second Party Primary (runoff). In the event that runoff election is NOT necessary, the Special General will be held on 5 April 2008.

CD 7 {map}		Republican	Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2004 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 4 October 2008 Primary
		Polls: Republican Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr.

		Republican	177,173	61.88%	Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr. • FEC H4LA07029: $1,569,139

		Democratic	98,280	34.33%	Donald R. Cravins, Jr. • FEC H8LA07046: $624,762

		Other-party nominee; (Constitution)	10,846	3.79%	Peter Vidrine • FEC H8LA07038: Financial report not available
Total			286,299	100.00%

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2007, 2011

		Republican	Secretary of State "Jay" Dardenne • First elected: 2006 in a special election; re-elected: 2007 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2011

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2007, 2011

		Democratic	Attorney General James D. "Buddy" Caldwell • First elected: 2007 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2011

Treasurer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2007, 2011

		Republican	Treasurer John Neely Kennedy • First elected as a Democrat: 1999; re-elected: 2003; switched affiliation to Republican 27 August 2007; re-elected: 2007 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2011 • Candidate for the Class 2 Senate Seat in 2008

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2007, 2011

		Republican	Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain • First elected: 2007 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2011

Commissioner of Insurance 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2007, 2011

		Republican	Insurance Commissioner James J. "Jim" Donelon • Appointed: 16 February 2006; first elected in Special Election 30 September 2006; re-elected: 2007 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2011

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic (affiliates): 7 incumbents, 11 candidates
	• Republican: 11 incumbents, 12 candidates
Major Third Parties
	• Green (affiliates): 2 candidates
	• Libertarian: 2 candidates
Other Third Parties
	• Constitution (affiliates): 3 candidates
	• Louisiana Taxpayers: 1 candidate
	• Socialism and Liberation: 1 candidate
	• Prohibition Party (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Socialist Workers Party: 1 candidate
Independents
	• Independent: 1 candidate
	• No Party Affiliation: 6 candidates
	• Other-party nominee: 5 candidates
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.

FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.