Louisiana

The Louisiana insurance commissioner’s race was decided in late September when Commissioner Jim Donelon, a Republican, narrowly defeated James David Cain, a former state legislator and a Republican, in a special election. Donelon was appointed to serve as commissioner in Feb-ruary 2006, after former commissioner, Robert Wooley, stepped down to pursue opportunities in the private sector. At his swearing in ceremony, Donelon said he would continue to “keep the dialogue going with insurance companies to let them know Louisiana is a great place to do business.”

Embattled incumbent Loui-siana Congressman William Jefferson faces a Dec. 9 run-off against state Rep. Karen Carter for his congressional seat. Both Carter and Jefferson are Democrats. Carter chairs the insurance committee in the state’s House of Representatives.

For over a year, Jefferson has struggled to defend himself from allegations of wrongdoing after the FBI raided his Washington and New Orleans homes. The FBI maintains in an affidavit that Jefferson hid bribe money in his freezer.

In other Louisiana congressional races, all five Republican incumbent House members — Richard Baker of Baton Rouge, Bobby Jindal of Metairie, Rodney Alexander of Quit-man, Charles Boustany of Lafayette, Jim McCrery of Shreveport — retained their offices.

Statewide, eight constitutional amendments were approved, including one combining New Orleans’ seven tax assessor offices into one.

Associated Press reports contributed to this story.