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Bitter Campaigns Bring Runoff In Lt. Governor, AG Races

courtesy
/
bestofneworleans.com
Lt. Gov.Candidates (L-R): Elbert Guillory, Kip Holden, Billy Nungesser, and John Young

After weeks of money poured into political ads for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, the dust settled late Saturday evening in seeing who would be advancing to a runoff.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden, a Democrat, led the Lieutenant Governor's field with 33 percent.  

The fight for the second runoff spot became increasingly negative, and personal, as the campaign drew to a close.  Republican former Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser and current Jefferson Parish President John Young, a fellow Republican, traded attack ads.  Complete, but unofficial results, show Nungesser with 30 percent.  Young trailed by over 11,000 votes, or 29 percent.  State senator Elbert Guillory finished a distant fourth.

Holden and Nungesser will face each other in the November 21 runoff election.

The Attorney General's race saw incumbent Buddy Caldwell pulling a modest 35 percent of the vote.  He is headed to a runoff with former congressman Jeff Landry, who received 33 percent in Saturday's election.

Other statewide races saw incumbents cruise to victory.  Secretary of State Tom Schedler, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, State Treasurer John Kennedy, and Agricultural Commissioner Mike Strain all won re-election bids Saturday.