Jefferson, Scalise, Boustany lead, likely winners

• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 5, 2008 - Page: 7A - UPDATED: 1 a.m.

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U.S. Rep. William Jefferson,  under indictment on bribery charges, appeared headed for victory Tuesday night with 469 of 492 precincts reporting for the New Orleans-based U.S. congressional seat.

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, looks to have handily won the 1st U.S. Congressional District, which stretches from Jefferson Parish to the parishes on the northern shore of Lake Ponchartrain.

With all but two precincts reporting, Scalise polled 178,168 votes or 66 percent of the 269,557 votes cast. He was challenged by Democratic businessman Jim Harlan of Lecombe, who received 91,389 votes. Scalise is expected to win re-election.

In the Acadiana-based 7th U.S. Congressional District in western Louisiana, incumbent U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, defeated a strong challenge by state Sen. Don Cravins Jr., D-Opelousas.

With all 509 precincts reporting, Boustany polled 175,791 votes or 62 percent of the votes cast. Cravins received 97,926 votes.

The 4th U.S. Congressional District, which stretches down the western edge of Louisiana from the Arkansas line to Calcasieu Parish, held two party runoffs Tuesday. In the Republican primary, John Fleming, a doctor from Minden, is ahead of Chris Gorman, an executive at trucking firm.

Fleming polled 42,981 votes or 56 percent of the 74,220 votes cast. Gorman received 34,380 votes in the general election with all 640 precincts reporting.

In the Democratic Party primary, Paul Carmouche, Democrat, Caddo Parish district attorney, is ahead of Willie Banks, Democrat, retired U.S. Army colonel.

Carmouche polled 92,982 votes or 62 percent of the 149,970 votes cast. Banks received 56,988 votes in the general election, with all 640 precincts reporting.

The winners of Tuesday’s closed-party primary in the 4th Congressional District meet for a Dec. 6 general election to determine who will replace retiring U.S. Rep. James McCrery, R-Shreveport.

Jefferson, 61, became Louisiana’s first black congressman since Reconstruction when he took office in 1991 after his 1990 election. Analysts gave him the edge over political newcomer 31-year-old Helena Moreno, despite Jefferson’s pending trial on bribery and money laundering charges.

Tuesday’s winner will be heavily favored in a Dec. 6 general election against a little-known Republican and two minor-party candidates.

About 60 percent of registered voters in the New Orleans-based district are black, and turnout among that demo-graphic group was expected to be high with Sen. Barack Obama on the presidential ballot. Moreno is white.