Louisiana state elections, 2007
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Louisiana's 2007 state elections were held on October 20, 2007, with runoff elections held on November 17. All statewide elected offices were up, as well as all seats in the Louisiana State Legislature. Republicans were successful in electing the country's first Indian-American governor, Congressman
Bobby Jindal Piyush "Bobby" Jindal (born June 10, 1971) is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of Louisiana from 2008 to 2016. The only living former Louisiana governor, Jindal also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives a ...
. The issue of the state's response to
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
played a large part in the decision of incumbent governor
Kathleen Blanco Kathleen Marie Blanco (née Babineaux; December 15, 1942 – August 18, 2019) was an American politician who served as the 54th Governor of Louisiana from January 2004 to January 2008. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the first and, t ...
to retire rather than seek a second term in office. Term limits also effected many retirements in the state legislature, which proved to be a benefit to Republicans, who made gains in both houses.


Governor

Bobby Jindal avoided a runoff by getting a majority in the Jungle Primary with 54%, over a number of other contenders.


Lieutenant governor

Democratic incumbent Mitch Landrieu had the best showing of any Democrat running statewide, winning 56.6% of the vote. He was opposed by two Republicans, country musician Sammy Kershaw and State Representative Gary Beard, and by two Independents, Norris "Spanky" Gros Jr. and Thomas D. Kates.


Open Primary Results


Attorney general

Incumbent Attorney General
Charles Foti Charles Carmen Foti, Jr. (born November 30, 1937), is a lawyer in New Orleans and a politician who served a single term from 2004 to 2008 as the Democratic Attorney General of the U.S. state of Louisiana, United States. Prior to becoming attorne ...
was challenged by both a Democrat, James "Buddy" Caldwell, and a Republican,
Royal Alexander Richard Royal Alexander, known as Royal Alexander (born February 18, 1966), is an attorney, writer, and former politician in his native Shreveport, Louisiana. In 2007, he was the Republican candidate for Louisiana Attorney General. In additio ...
. Foti placed third in the open primary, leading to a runoff between Caldwell and Alexander, in which Caldwell easily won.


Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry

Longtime incumbent Democrat
Bob Odom Robert Fulton Odom, Jr. (July 20, 1935 – May 17, 2014), was the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in the U.S. state of Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep S ...
faced his toughest re-election campaign ever, winning only 41% of the vote and ending up into a runoff with Republican State Representative
Michael G. Strain Michael Gene Strain (born December 2, 1959) is an American politician from Louisiana. He is the Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner. Strain is from Abita Springs, Louisiana. He is a veterinarian. Strain joined the Louisiana House o ...
. Odom withdrew from the runoff, making Strain the winner by default.


Open Primary Results


Commissioner of Insurance

Republican Jim Donelon, who was elected to the Insurance Commissioner post in a 2006 special election, defeated both Democrat Jim Crowley and Republicans
Robert Lansden The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
and Jerilyn Schneider-Kneale to win a full term.


Open Primary Results


Secretary of State

Republican incumbent Jay Dardenne, after winning a special election in 2006, easily defeated Democrat
R. Wooley R. or r. may refer to: * ''Reign'', the period of time during which an Emperor, king, queen, etc., is ruler. * '' Rex'', abbreviated as R., the Latin word meaning King * ''Regina'', abbreviated as R., the Latin word meaning Queen * or , abbreviat ...
and Libertarian
Scott A. Lewis III Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saskat ...
to win a full term.


Open Primary Results


State Treasurer

Incumbent
John Neely Kennedy John Neely Kennedy (born November 21, 1951) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Louisiana since 2017. He served as the Louisiana State Treasurer from 2000 to 2017. Kennedy has been a memb ...
, a Democrat who switched to the Republican party in 2007, was re-elected unopposed.


State legislature


Louisiana Senate

In the open primary election, Democrats won a total of 22 seats, including both seats won outright and runoffs between two Democrats. Republicans won 12 seats outright with one runoff. In the runoff elections between a Democrat and a Republican, each party won two seats, making the post-election composition of the Senate 24 Democrats and 15 Republicans. Following the elections, Democratic State Sen. Robert Adley switched to the Republican party, making the Senate 23 Democrats and 16 Republican


House of Representatives

In the open primary, Democrats won a guaranteed 45 seats: 34 outright, with 11 runoffs between two Democrats. Republicans won a guaranteed 42 seats: 30 outright, with 12 runoffs between two Republicans. One independent was also elected. The remaining 17 seats went to runoffs, including 16 between a Democrat and a Republican and one between a Democrat and an Independent. Democrats and Republicans each won eight of these seats, with the last going to an Independent, giving the Democrats a slim 53 to 50, with two Independents, majority in the House of Representatives.


External links


Election Results
{{DEFAULTSORT:Louisiana State Elections, 2007 2007 Louisiana elections, 2007 elections in the United States by state