Although the presidential election in Louisiana took place on November 4 without incident, state rules allowed for a one month delay in two U.S. House races due to Hurricane Gustav (never mind that the storm hit land on September 1st - those crazy cajuns!).
Yesterday, in the state's 2nd congressional district (which includes New Orleans), nine-term Democratic incumbent William Jefferson went down to defeat to his Republican opponent Joseph Cao, 50% to 47% (with an independent candidate getting the remaining 3%).
This is one of those extremely rare instances where I'm glad to see the Democrat go. Rep. Jefferson has been caught up in a corruption investigation where it is alleged that $400,000 in bribes were paid to him via a fake company that was maintained in the name of his spouse and children. In a subsequent raid on his congressional office, $90,000 in cash was found stashed in his freezer.
Had the Democrats in this district had any brains, they would have denied Jefferson renomination in the primary election. But he remained the Party's nominee and he deserved the beating he received at the ballot boxes yesterday.
Yes...that puts a Republican in the seat, but so be it. Jefferson needed to be removed from the House of Representatives. This is an overwhelming Democratic district and, if the Party nominates the right candidate, Joseph Cao can serve simply as a place holder until 2010 (ala Michael Patrick Flanagan in Chicago, circa 1994).
