With none of the candidates securing half of the votes yesterday, the special election for the Secretary of State’s seat is heading for a December 8th runoff. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy says the nationally hyped Democratic Congressional take is not a big deal. Matt Doyle has more.
The special election for the Secretary of State’s seat is headed for a run-off between the interim holder of the position, Republican Kyle Ardoin and a relatively unknown Democratic candidate Gwen Collins-Greenup. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the success of the latter candidate caught some off guard.
Cut 3 (10) “…make the run off.”
Collins-Greenup, a black minister and entrepreneur from East Feliciana Parish, who holds a law degree. Tuesday night she secured 20% of the votes and about 9,600 votes less than top vote-getter Kyle Ardoin.
Democrat Renee Fontenot Free finished third, Republican Rick Edmonds fourth and Republican Julie Stokes fifth. Pinsonat says Stokes disappointing finish will hurt future efforts at statewide offices….
Cut 4 (11) “…the hardcore Republicans.″
Pinsonat says when it comes to the December 8th run off, Collins Greenup likely faces an uphill battle, as black voter turnout historically has not exceeded the turnout of white voters.
Cut 5 (08) “…not going to happen.”
Republican U.S. Senator John Kennedy says the vaunted Blue Wave ended up being more of a Blue Dribble as the Democrats took control of the House, and flipped seven governorships, but lost seats in the Senate. Kennedy says the performance is proof that Trump isn’t a fluke.
Kennedy is now faced with a much different political landscape now that the upper chamber will have to deal with a lower chamber held by Democrats if they hope to pass any further legislation. The Senator says he hopes the other party will stay away from the president and work on issues like…
Cut 7 (08) “…work requirement.”
Kennedy says he’ll let us know if he plans to run for governor in 2019 by December 1st, but that none of the events last night have swayed him either way. But he did note that a Republican challenger would stand a good chance given Democrats and Edwards’ allies under performed in the Secretary of State’s race.
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This midterm election was not a big election cycle for Louisiana, but next year will be a different story. There will be a governor’s race, statewide elected officials are up for re-election and seats for the state legislature will be on the ballot next October. LA-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the field for the governor’s race will soon begin to take shape
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Alford says Senator Kennedy has said he’ll announce by the end of this month whether he’ll run for governor. He says that’s the significant piece to this upcoming governor’s race…
Alford says the voters will not start paying attention to the governor’s race until mid-summer, but that will not stop the candidates from raising money…
Cut 11 (09) “…fundraising records.”
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An Alabama fan who was allegedly assaulted at the Ponchatoula Pub after the Bama/LSU game is dead from injuries sustained in the incident. 46-year Robert Bowers had been in the hospital since Sunday, and 27-year-old Azia Crockett and 24-year-old Ryan Anthony are in jail. Police Chief Bry Layrisson says Crockett sucker punched Bowers…
A relative of Bowers’ was removed from the bar earlier that night after having confrontations with the Crockett.
After allegedly being sucker punched then jumped on while he was unconscious, a first responder at the scene attempted to stabilize Mr. Bowers.
Layrisson says while those involved may have been pulling for different teams that night, they’re not necessarily chalking this up to a case of overzealous fandom.
Crockett and Anthony are each facing one count of manslaughter.