AP Wire

Boustany et al qualify for congressional runs

by The Associated Press

U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany qualifies to run for Senate Wednesday at the secretary of state’s office in Baton Rouge.
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Two of the state’s GOP congressmen, Charles Boustany of the 3rd District and John Fleming of the 4th District, aren’t running for re-election, but are running for an open U.S. Senate seat. Both qualified Wednesday.

Most of Louisiana’s incumbent congressmen who intend to run for re-election have also signed up for their races.

U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise, Ralph Abraham and Garret Graves qualified for the Nov. 8 ballot Wednesday. All three men are Republicans.

Scalise, the third-ranking member of the House, registered to run again for his 1st District seat representing southeast Louisiana. Abraham, a doctor from Rayville, is seeking to hold onto his 5th District seat representing northeast and central Louisiana. Graves, the state’s former coastal chief, signed up for the race for the 6th District seat he holds representing the Baton Rouge area.

The mayor of Baton Rouge, whose city is embroiled in the aftermath of shootings and protests, also signed up to run for a congressional seat.

Kip Holden, a Democrat who is term-limited as mayor, qualified Wednesday for the 2nd District race, challenging Democratic incumbent Cedric Richmond. The district is Louisiana’s only majority black district, representing New Orleans up the Mississippi River to part of Baton Rouge.

Candidates have until Friday to register for the November ballot.