LOUISIANA

The Senate:...
Democratic Incumbent: Mary Landrieu
Republican Challenger: John N. Kennedy

The House:...

• Louisiana's 2nd congressional district: Incumbent Bill Jefferson has been indicted on 16 counts of corruption, and as a result it is possible that he will not seek reelection. Even if he does seek reelection, he may face serious opposition in the Democratic primary. The district includes nearly all of New Orleans and some of its suburbs. Possible Democratic candidates include State Senator and Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives Karen Carter and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

• Louisiana's 4th congressional district: Incumbent Jim McCrery is retriring. 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. Republican candidates include former Webster Perish coroner, businessman, physician John Fleming, Attorney Jeff Thompson and trucking company executive Chris Gorman. On the Democratic side, Patti Cox, local party organizer and environmental consultant and 2006 candidate, might run again. The Democratic candidates are Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche, Attorney Willie Banks Jr., and John Milkovich, an attorney from Shreveport, who took almost 30% for the votes in 2002 against McCrery.

• Louisiana's 6th congressional district: 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. It is unclear whether Jenkins will seek a rematch. Other possible Republican candidates include State Representative Hunter Greene, former Baker aide Paul Sawyer, Navy veteran Michael Cloonan, Baton Rouge Metro Council members David Bonero and Mike Walker and Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor. Democratic state representative Michael Jackson announced that he would run as an independent after Cazayoux defeated him in the primary.^[82]

Retirements:...
Louisiana's 4th congressional district: Jim McCrery(R)

Completed Special Elections:...Louisiana's 1st congressional district: On January 14, 2008, Bobby Jindal (R) resigned to become Governor of Louisiana. The special election primary was held on March 8, 2008; it was the first closed primary in recent Louisiana history. For the Democrats, Gilda Reed defeated Vinny Mendoza with 69.75% of the vote to 30.25%. Since Reed received more than 50% of the vote, no runoff was necessary. On the Republican side, Steve Scalise received 48.34%, and Tim Burns was second with 27.72% meaning that a runoff was required. Scalise defeated Burns 58.08% to 41.92% in the primary runoff on April 5, 2008, and defeated Reed 75%-22% in the special general election on May 3, 2008.

Louisiana's 6th congressional district: On February 2, 2008, Richard Baker (R) resigned to become Director of the Managed Funds Association.^[1] The special election primary took place on March 8, 2008. For the Democrats, Don Cazayoux and Michael Jackson were the top two finishers with 34.93% and 27.17% respectively, but since no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff was scheduled for April 5, 2008. On the Republican side, Woody Jenkins barely missed avoiding a runoff with 49.87% of the vote. Laurinda Calongne finished second with 25.47%. In the runoff, Cazayoux defeated Jackson 56.80% to 43.20%, and Jenkins defeated Calongne 61.94% to 38.06%. Cazayoux (D) and Jenkins (R) faced each other in the special election on May 3, 2008. Cazayoux (D) defeated Jenkins (R) 49-46%.