TODAY'S CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN LOUISIANA (UPDATE: CAZAYOUX BEATS KLANSMAN)

Don Cazayoux spells impending disaster for GOP

There were two congressional runoffs today in Louisiana, one to fill the seat that opened when Bobby Jindal became governor and one to fill the seat that became open when Richard Baker made it official and admitted he is a lobbyist. The first CD, the one formerly represented by Jindal, is expected to vote heavily Republican, which is a damned shame, since there is an actual progressive in the race, Gilda Reed. The people there still favor the war in Iraq and Confederate ideals. The 6th CD, centered around Baton Rouge, looks like a toss-up. Don Cazayoux is a conservative Democrat and Woody Jenkins is a neo-fascist Republican. The Secretary of State's website keeps releasing unofficial returns as they come in. So far only 9 parishes have reported (out of 505) in the first CD and only 6 parishes out of 512 in the Baton Rouge race, so the figures are meaningless. I'll be updating throughout the night.

Meanwhile, you can vote too-- but not on these races. Should Vito Fossella, Staten Island's drunken congressman, go to jail for breaking the law? Vote here.

With 64 precincts reporting Jenkins leads 8,978 (55%) to 6,688 (41%); too early to be sure if this means anything.


UPDATE ONE: KKK CANDIDATE PULLS AHEAD IN BATON ROUGE

With 20% of the parishes reporting it's Jenkins with 13,237 (52.7%) and Cazayoux with 10,936 (43.6%).


UPDATE TWO: THERE'S GONNA BE SOME HAPPY KLAN DRAGONS TONIGHT

With about half the precincts counted, Jenkins has 27,457 votes (51.6%) and Cazayoux has 23,308 (43.8%) but... the biggest Democratic precincts of East Baton Rouge haven't reported yet.


UPDATE TROIS: AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRECINCTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE ARE REPORTNG NOW

The race is tightening as Jackson's primary supporters come in big for Cazayoux. With 121 of East Baton Rouge's 314 precincts now in, it's Jenkins with 29,841 (48.9%) and Cazayoux with 28,350 (46.4%)


UPDATE FOUR: IT'S ALL UP TO EAST BATON ROUGE NOW

Virtually all votes are counted in the KKK-heavy areas and all that's left to count are the Democratic strongholds of East Baton Rouge. Any Klansmen who were breaking out the rum and coke or Pabst Blue Ribbon, hold off. Only 156 of East Baton Rouge's 314 precincts are in and Jenkins can still lose this. Right now it's Jenkins with 34,428 (49.1%) and Cazayoux with 32,400 (46.2%).

UPDATE FIVE: CAZAYOUX PULLS AHEAD

The East Baton Rouge precincts are flooding in now and Cazayoux has pulled ahead of Klansman Woody Jenkins.-- 49,312 (49.2%) to 46,282 (46.2%) It is OVER!


UPDATE: FINAL VOTE

Don Cazayoux- 49,702 (49.20%)

Woody Jenkins- 46,741 (46.27%)

The GOP and GOP front groups spent over $4 millions to hold on to this red, red seat. They failed. Do you think it will stop them from blocking veterans' right bills and children's health care? I doubt it. Speaker Pelosi and DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen had every right to gloat tonight. CVH: "For the second time this cycle, Republicans were reminded that 'all politics is local.' House Republicans tried to nationalize this election, illegally coordinated with Freedom's Watch, used false and deceptive special interest smears, and funneled nearly a million dollars into a district that Republicans held for more than three decades. Don won by focusing on the concerns of LA-06 voters -- good paying jobs, affordable health care, and better education."

Nancy P: "Louisianans embraced Don's positive message of strengthening America's middle class by investing in education, creating jobs, making health care more affordable and bringing our brave men and women home from Iraq. His ability to work across party lines and build consensus will be a wonderful addition to the New Direction Congress. Don Cazayoux's victory this evening proves once again that Americans across our country want real solutions and reject Republicans' negative attacks."