Louisiana held its congressional primary on October 4. In the 4th district, no one got a majority in either the Democratic or Republican primaries. Therefore, both parties will hold run-off primaries on November 4, and the general election for that seat will be held on December 6.
In the 2nd district, no one got 50% of the vote in the Democratic primary, so that district will also hold a run-off primary on November 4, and the general election will be December 6.
and if I recall federal law correctly. the 11/4 runoff and 12/6 election is illegal.
Also, Independent John Schwegmann (former Dem) will face Eric Skrmetta on 11/4 for the 1st district PSC seat.
Other non R/D wins in the 10/4 primary
Kevin Conner (Other – District Judge, 25th Judicial District Court, Division A)
Kerry Anderson (No Party – District Judge, 36th Judicial District Court, Division B)
Robert E. Burgess (No Party – District Judge, 42nd Judicial District Court, Division A)
Asa Skinner (No Party – District Attorney, 30th Judicial District Court)
Tom Daley (No Party – District Attorney, 40th Judicial District Court)
It doesn’t seem like any of the ballot-qualified third parties did much of anything in the local races.
It’s legal to hold the election after Nov. 4, just not before (according to a Supreme Court ruling). But one could argue then that the CD-5 election (Alexander defeated Clack in the Republican primary and no one else is running) was illegal.
The last time a general election was held after the federal election day (without it being Louisiana from 1998 to 2006) was probably Georgia in 1982 and that was a redistricting snafu, iirc.
But, I just don’t think it’s very legal to do it like this. Not to mention it’ll be confusing to voters and there’ll high turnout in both districts, but not a lot of turnout in December.
The turnout question is especially relevant in the Second District Democratic run-off.
That run-off is between the incumbent Bill Jefferson (who faces serious legal and ethical questions) and Helena Moreno. Jefferson is black and Moreno is not.
The fact that this run-off will be held on November 4 rather than on October 4 (as it had been originally scheduled) probably helps Jefferson. Black voter turnout will likely be higher for the presidential race than it would have been for an October run-off.
The Democratic nominee will almost certainly win the December general election.
The rescheduling of the elections was the second lucky break that Jefferson, who was thought to be very vulnerable, got this year.
The first was the removal of Jimmy Fahrenholtz from the ballot. (Fahrenholtz’s removal was probably unconstitutional. His case was handled very badly.) Fahrenholtz, a white Democratic school board member, would have taken much of the white vote on which Moreno was depending. The splitting of the white Democratic vote would have likely resulted in a run-off between Jefferson and one of his black Democratic challengers. That would have taken away Jefferson’s racial advantage in the run-off and may have resulted in him losing the nomination.
Under federal law, a congressional election may be held on a date other than the general election date in November in order to fill vacancies, including those due to a failure to elect on the designated day.
This provision was last used in 2006 in Texas, when the Supreme Court overruled part of the districting plan after the party primaries had been held. The elections were conducted as a special election on the November general election day, with a runoff a few weeks later (in the one district where the winner did not receive a majority).
Comment #3: Georgia is now the only state that has party primaries AND runoff general elections. 2 days before Thanksgiving of 1992, Paul Coverdell beat U. S. Sen. Wyche Fowler in a runoff, since neither had gotten 50%-plus on the first Tuesday in November.
Arizona had runoff general elections for awhile. In February 1991, Fife Symington won the runoff for governor, since no one had gotten 50%-plus in November 1990.
Georgia has had runoff general elections for lower offices. A few years ago, a Libertarian won such a runoff for a county position.
A mere U.S.A. L-A-W ———
[R.S. Sec. 25] 2 U.S.C. Sec. 7. Time of election
The Tuesday next after the 1st Monday in November, in every even numbered year, is established as [[[the day]]] for [[[the election]]], in each of the States and Territories of the United States, of Representatives and Delegates to the Congress commencing on the 3d day of January next thereafter.
[[[emphasis added]]]
(R.S. Sec. 25; Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 130, Sec. 6, 18 Stat. 400; June 5, 1934, ch. 390, Sec. 2, 48 Stat. 879.)
Codification
R.S. Sec. 25 derived from act Feb. 2, 1872, ch. 11, Sec. 3, 17 Stat. 28.
The second sentence of this section, which was based on section 6 of the act Mar. 3, 1875 and made this section inapplicable to any State that had not yet changed its day of election and whose constitution required an amendment to change the day of election of its State officers, was omitted.
*******
See the Supremes —
Foster v. Love, 522 U.S. 67 (1997)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/96-670.ZS.html
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The LA so-called *election* on Dec. 6, 2008 for ANY U.S.A. Reps. is blatantly UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
The MORON regime can hold its STATE/LOCAL *elections* whenever.
What person in LA has ANY legal brain cells — the LA A.G., any U.S.A. District Attorney, etc. ???
What is the matter with the MORON regimes in the South ??? —
Florida 2000 — the entire legislative, executive and judicial regime screwing up in Bush v. Gore — NO definition of a legal vote.
Louisiana 2005 — Katrina — New Orleans — below sea level in a swamp in a super- dangerous hurricane surge zone — massive death and destruction.
Texas 2008 — The low-low Galveston Island in a super- dangerous hurricane surge zone — massive death and destruction.
Too much heat ROTS the brains of folks and makes them MORONS ??? Duh.