Declarations

“I have to ask you to trust me based on 26 years of service not based on 18, 19 months of rumor.”

— Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson, who was unable in the Nov. 7 election to overcome allegations in an FBI affidavit that said he hid bribe money in his freezer, and was forced into a Dec. 9 runoff against state Rep. Karen Carter. Carter, from New Orleans, has served as chair of the Insurance Committee in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Both Jefferson and Carter are Democrats. Jefferson led the multiparty field of 13 and won about 30 percent of the vote. Carter garnered 22 percent.

“I’ve been focused on this race, not what I will do in the future. I know there will be opportunities and I’ll start looking at those tomorrow.”

— Oklahoma Republican Rep. Ernest Istook, after his defeat in the race for governor against incumbent Democratic Gov. Brad Henry. Henry’s victory was the biggest landslide in an Oklahoma governor’s race in almost half a century, capturing 66.5 percent of the vote. In unofficial returns, Henry rolled up 615,973 votes and Istook, the seven-term representative from the 5th Congressional District, chalked up 310,333.

Source: AP

“The party establishment turned its back on the statewide ticket, and I think those who are honest may rue the day. … They could have had the governorship.”

— Democratic consultant Kelly Fero, commenting on the Texas governor’s race, in which incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry took in only 39 percent of the vote. The race was split five ways, between Perry, one Democrat, two independent candidates and one libertarian. Democratic candidate Chris Bell came in second with 30 percent of the vote.

Source: AP