United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in Louisiana were scheduled for November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Louisiana in the United States House of Representatives. Louisiana has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The primary elections were to be held September 6, 2008, but were rescheduled for October 3, 2008 due to storm damage following Hurricane Gustav. Any necessary party runoffs will then be held on November 4, the same date as the presidential election, and the general election for those races would then be held December 6th. [ [http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-30/122059226298330.xml&coll=1 Primaries likely to be postponed] Ed Anderson, "The Times-Picayune", September 5, 2008] [ [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000002944735 Louisiana Primary Blown Back to Oct. 4 by Hurricane’s Aftermath] Bob Benenson, "CQ Politics", September 5, 2008]

Going into the 2008 elections, four seats are held by Republicans, three by Democrats.

The races not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party are 4, 6 and 7.

District 1

Republican incumbent Steve Scalise is facing a crowded, well-funded field in the primary. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-LA-01 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA01&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 2

The district includes nearly all of New Orleans and some of its suburbs, and is heavily Democratic: John Kerry won 75% of the vote here in 2004. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Incumbent Bill Jefferson has been indicted on 16 counts of corruption, complicating his reelection bid. His opponents in the Democratic Primary are State Representative Cedric Richmond ( [http://www.cedricrichmond.com/ campaign website] ), Jefferson Parish councilman Byron Lee ( [http://www.electbyronlee.com/ campaign website] ), former TV anchor Helena Moreno ( [http://www.morenoforcongress.com/ campaign website] ), former mayoral aide Kenya Smith, New Orleans city councilman James Carter ( [http://www.jamescarter.us/ campaign website] ), and former New Orleans city councilman Troy Carter ( [http://www.troycarterforcongress.com/ campaign website] ) [ [http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20080811n Louisiana Weekly] ] . No candidate received 50% of the vote or more in the 4 October 2008 primary, so Jefferson and Moreno, the two candidates with the most votes, will compete in a runoff on 4 November.

Anh "Joseph" Cao is the sole Republican running. [ [http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base//news-6/1219036919168760.xml&coll=1 NOLA.com] ]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-LA-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 3

Democratic incumbent Charlie Melancon is running for re-election. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-LA-03 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA03&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 4

Incumbent Jim McCrery is retiring, making this an open seat. The district contains northwestern Louisiana, including the cities of Shreveport, DeRidder, and Natchitoches. The district usually, but not reliably, votes Republican, as Bill Clinton won it comfortably in 1996. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Leans Republican'.

Republican candidates include former Webster Parish coroner, businessman and physician John Fleming; attorney Jeff Thompson, and trucking company executive Chris Gorman.

The leading Democratic candidate is Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche, joined by attorney Willie Banks Jr., 2006 nominee Artis 'Doc' Cash, and Shreveport attorney John Milkovich who took almost 30% for the votes in 2002 against McCrery. Patti Cox, local party organizer and environmental consultant and 2006 candidate, decided not to run.

* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-LA-04 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA04&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 5

Republican incumbent Rodney Alexander is running for re-election. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-LA-05 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA05&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 6

Democrat Don Cazayoux defeated Republican Woody Jenkins 49%–46% in a special election in order to succeed Republican Richard Baker. Given Cazayoux's narrow margin of victory and the Republican-leaning nature of the district (Bush won 59% here in 2004), it is expected that Cazayoux will be a GOP target as he runs for his first full term. The only announced Republican candidate is State Senator Bill Cassidy. Democratic State Representative Michael Jackson announced that he would run as an independent after Cazayoux defeated him in the primary. [ [http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Politics/Elections/Louisiana_Sixth_Congressional_District_Election_Late_Moves__6347.asp Bayou Buzz.com] ] CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.

* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-LA-06 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA06&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 7

Republican incumbent Charles Boustany was reelected in 2006 with 70% of the vote, but faces a challenge from Constitution Party candidate Peter Vidrine ( [http://www.peternow.com/ campaign website] ) and Democratic State Senator Don Cravins, Jr. ( [http://www.cravinsforcongress.com/ campaign website] ). Vidrine is a Constitutional conservative. Cravins holds several conservative views, such as support for gun owners' rights [ [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002932765 CQ Politics | Dems’ Craving for Upset of Boustany Prompts New Rating in Louisiana House Race] ] , and has been identified by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a top recruit. [ [http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0808/DCCC_announces_latest_round_of_top_recruits.html?showall The Scorecard: 2008 Congressional campaign news and analysis - Politico.com] ] Boustany has the advantage of running in a district that gave George W. Bush 60% of the vote in 2004, as well as more cash-on-hand. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Republican Favored'.

* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-LA-07 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA07&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

References

External links

* [http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/68/Default.aspx Elections Division] from the "Louisiana Secretary of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=LA&go33.x=13&go33.y=11 U.S. Congress candidates for Louisiana] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/Louisiana Louisiana U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=LA Campaign contributions for Louisiana congressional races] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.nola.com/elections/ Louisiana Elections & Politics] from "The Times-Picayune" newspaper

sequence
prev= 2006 elections
list= United States House elections in Louisiana 2008
next= 2010 elections