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U.S. NEWS A5
Monday 23 November 2015
Democrats celebrate victory in Louisiana governor’s race
Louisiana Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards hugs his wife Donna Edwards as he arrives to greet sup- prostitution scandal in
porters at his election night watch party in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. At right is his which he apologized for
daughter Sarah Ellen Edwards. Edwards won the runoff election for Louisiana governor Saturday, a “serious sin” after he
defeating the once-heavy favorite, Republican David Vitter, and handing the Democrats their first was linked through phone
statewide victory since 2008. records to Washington’s
“D.C. Madam.”
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) In the final days, Vitter
sought to rally Republican
voters by drawing policy
distinctions with Edwards
and making Syrian refugee
resettlement an issue in
the state campaign. But it
didn’t work.
“I’ve lost one political cam-
paign in my life, tonight and
ironically it’s the campaign
and the political effort I am
most proud of,” Vitter told
supporters.
The rebuke from Louisi-
ana voters will create an
open Senate seat for the
2016 election, as Vitter an-
nounced he wouldn’t seek
re-election to Congress.q
MELINDA DESLATTE siana is a deep red state
Associated Press and our Republican brand
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Dem- is strong,” Villere said in
ocrats in Louisiana cele- a statement lamenting a
brated as they reclaimed “disappointing result in the
the governor’s mansion gubernatorial race.”
in the southern state for The Democratic victory
the first time in eight years, was as much about Vit-
while the state’s Repub- ter’s flaws as a candidate
lican leader insisted the as it was about Edwards’
party’s “brand is strong” strengths.
even amid the defeat of a Edwards painted the race
one-time political power- as a referendum on Vit-
house, U.S. Sen. David Vit- ter’s character and sug-
ter. gested the U.S. senator
Democrat John Bel Ed- didn’t measure up in such
wards’ victory in Saturday’s a competition. Edwards,
runoff election was once- who started the campaign
unthinkable in the conser- as a little-known lawmaker
vative state and a stunning from a rural parish, focused
turn of events for Vitter, on his West Point degree
who started his campaign and military resume, and
nearly two years ago as the he pledged a bipartisan
race’s front-runner. With leadership style.
his 12-percentage point “The people have cho-
loss, Vitter announced he sen hope over scorn, over
wouldn’t seek re-election negativity and over distrust
to the Senate in 2016. of others,” Edwards said
Edwards’ win offered a rare in his victory speech, be-
pick-up of a governor’s fore leading a second-line
seat for Democrats in the parade with a jazz band
conservative Deep South, through the French Quarter
but Republican leaders hotel ballroom.
insisted it was a one-time Rather than a race about
fluke that didn’t suggest the state’s deep financial
the party was in trouble in troubles, the contest for
Louisiana. governor largely became
Republican Party of Loui- about Vitter, who has been
siana Chairman Roger Vil- in elected office, first as a
lere pointed to victories for state lawmaker and then in
lieutenant governor and Congress, for more than 20
attorney general and gains years.
in the state Legislature. But Vitter was hit with re-
“Make no mistake, Loui- peated attacks for a 2007
