Jefferson headed for Louisiana primary runoff

Indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) advanced to a runoff after surviving a seven-way primary Saturday. 

Jefferson, who is seeking a 10th term, came in first place with 25 percent of the vote after all precincts had reported their totals. His opponent in the Nov. 4 runoff will be former television news anchor Helena Moreno, who captured nearly 20 percent of the vote. The third-place finisher was state Rep. Cedric Richmond, who received 17 percent.

This means Jefferson, the first African-American from Louisiana to serve in Congress after Reconstruction, will face the only non-African American candidate in the primary. The district they are fighting to represent is majority African-American. 

{mosads}In Louisiana congressional primaries, the top two vote getters move to a runoff when none of the candidates receive more than 50 percent of the votes.

stressed his 18 years of service for the district in his victory speech.

“I cannot tell you how much gratitude I have in my heart tonight for what you have done to undergird the work that my family and I have undertaken for so many years together,” he told supporters, according to the Associated Press. “Give us your support, give us your prayers as you have, and we'll keep delivering for our area.”

Jefferson ran for re-election despite awaiting trial for federal corruption charges. He has been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for his efforts to promote a technology company for government contracts. Jefferson has pleaded not guilty.

In 2006, when he was already under investigation, he survived a multi-candidate primary and a runoff before prevailing easily in the general election.

The winner of this year’s runoff will again be the heavy favorite to win the seat. The district includes most of New Orleans and is heavily Democratic. Most of the district’s voters — 64 percent – are African-American, while 30 percent are white and less than 4 percent are Hispanic, according to census data. 

The general election is scheduled for Dec. 6.

In the race to replace retiring 10-term Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.), both Democratic and Republican candidates will be heading to November runoffs. 

Democrat Paul Carmouche, a district attorney, had been expected to avoid a runoff by winning a majority of votes. Carmouche had raised far more money than three opponents, but he captured just 48 percent of the vote with 99.6 percent of precincts reporting. Retired Army Col. Willie Banks received about 23 percent of the vote, while trial lawyer John Milkovich received 21 percent.

Carmouche, who has raised $666,000 and has been touted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a strong contender to take a GOP-held seat, will likely be the runoff favorite. Banks, who was closing in on second place, raised just $75,000 for the campaign, according to federal campaign finance reports. Milkovich has yet to file a campaign finance report.

In the Republican primary, physician John Fleming and trucking executive Chris Gorman, will face off in next month’s GOP primary. Fleming, a Navy veteran and owner of several Subway restaurants, received 35 percent of the vote with 99.6 percent of precincts reporting. Gorman received 34 percent.

Fleming has spent about $600,000 of his own money while Gorman, has spent $800,000 of his own money. Attorney Jeff Thompson, who received McCrery’s endorsement but was in third place with less than 31 percent, raised about $370,000.

The primaries had been scheduled for Sept. 6, but they were postponed because of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.