Jefferson faces runoff; Alexander sails to fourth term

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 5, 2008 - Page: 8A - UPDATED: 12:45 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

As the final numbers rolled in late Saturday, longtime U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, headed into a runoff election with former television reporter Helena Moreno.

In the 5th U.S. Congressional District, which includes parishes west of Baton Rouge, incumbent U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, received a clear victory in his bid for a fourth term.

Most of the other closed primary Congressional elections Saturday are headed into runoffs.

Closed party primary elections are where candidates from the same party square off.

Only the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th U.S. Congressional Districts had closed primary elections Saturday. Candidates in those districts had to receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright and avoid a runoff election on Nov. 4.

Elections for the Baton Rouge-based 6th Congressional District and the 7th Congressional District, which covers the southwestern part of the state, only have candidates from different parties, so those races will not be on the ballot until Nov. 4.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, did not have opposition in his bid for re-election to the 3rd U.S. Congressional District seat.

In the New Orleans-based 2nd District, Jefferson received 17,501 votes, or about 25 percent, of the 69,149 votes cast. Moreno, of New Orleans, received 13,781 votes, or nearly 20 percent.

The party primary runoff would be Nov. 4 and the general election would be Dec. 6.

Jefferson faced six challengers in the Democratic primary.

The nine-term congressman was indicted last year in a federal court on allegations that he took bribes, laundered money and misused his congressional office for business dealings. His trial is scheduled to begin in December.

Secretary of State Jay Dardenne said Saturday evening some problems were reported in the 2nd District race, which covers New Orleans and some of its suburbs. Some eligible voters complained they were not allowed to cast a ballot, he said.

“If the race in the 2nd is close, and I certainly believe it is going to be a relatively close race, there certainly could be questions raised” about the outcome, said Dardenne.