INDReporter

Voters to decide Congressional primaries Saturday

by Nathan Stubbs

Louisiana holds its congressional primary election tomorrow, Saturday, August 28, when three hotly contested races will be decided. Louisiana holds its congressional primary election tomorrow, Saturday, August 28, when three hotly contested races will be decided. Senator David Vitter is on the ballot for the first time since his prostitution scandal, but he is expected to cruise through tomorrow's Republican primary against former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor and Franklin physician Nick Accardo. A closer contest is expected in the Democratic party primary for New Orleans' 1st Congressional District, where four African-American Democrats are vying for a spot on the general election ballot against incumbent Republican Joseph Cao (Cao is unopposed in the GOP primary). Another closely watched race is taking place in the 3rd Congressional District, where three Republicans, former state Rep. Hunt Downer, New Iberia attorney Jeff Landry and New Iberia oilfield manager Kristian Magar. The race has reached its boiling point over the past week, with frontrunners Downer and Landry both calling to question each other's military service records. The mudslinging could provide a boost for Magar and help force an extended race. If none of the contenders garners more than 50 percent of the votes cast this weekend, then the two leading candidates will be forced into a runoff that will be held Oct. 2. Whoever ultimately prevails will then have to face Democrat Ravi Sangisetty of Houma in the Nov. 2 general election (Sangisetty is unopposed in the Democratic primary).