The2021 Louisiana's 2nd congressional district special election was held on March 20, 2021, with a runoff being held on April 24, 2021.
On November 17, 2020, incumbent Democratic representativeCedric Richmond announced that he would resign from theUnited States House of Representatives to serve as the director of theOffice of Public Liaison and as aSenior Advisor toJoe Biden . He did so on January 15, 2021, and took his new job when Biden assumed office on January 20, 2021.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] When congressional seats inLouisiana become vacant, the governor has the ability to call a special election at any time. The special election to fillLouisiana's 2nd congressional district took place on March 20, and a runoff was held on April 24.[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] Troy Carter won the runoff election on April 24, 2021, against fellow Democrat Karen Peterson.[ 1]
Of the Democratic candidates,Troy Carter , a state senator,Karen Carter Peterson , a state senator and former chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, andGary Chambers , an activist, were considered the frontrunners.[ 9] Of these candidates, Carter was considered to bemoderate , while Peterson and Chambers were considered to beprogressives .[ 9] In the jungle primary, Carter and Peterson took first and second place with 36% and 23% of the vote, while Chambers took third place with 21%.[ 10] Chambers' result was considered an overperformance, as he significantly outdid his polling numbers.[ 10] On March 29, Chambers endorsed Peterson.[ 11]
Chelsea Ardoin, HR professional[ 16] Claston Bernard , decathlete[ 16] Greg Lirette, information technology professional[ 19] Sheldon C. Vincent Sr., retired postal worker[ 16] Mindy McConnell, principal[ 20] No party affiliation [ edit ] Belden "Noonie Man" Batiste, activist and perennial candidate[ 16] Brandon Jolicoeur, actor[ 16] Claston Bernard (R)
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Rev.Jesse Lee Peterson , podcast and talk show host, president of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND)(1990–present)[ 26] Organizations
Troy Carter (D)
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Gary Chambers (D)
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John Iadarola , talk show host,YouTube personality, and political pundit[ 39] Shaun King , author and civil rights activist[ 40] Sam Seder , actor, political commentator, and host ofThe Majority Report with Sam Seder [ 41] Cenk Uygur , journalist, creator ofThe Young Turks , and co-founder ofJustice Democrats [ 42] Marianne Williamson , author, activist, andcandidate forpresident of the United States in2020 [ 43] Karen Carter Peterson (D)
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Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s) administered Sample size[ a] Margin of error Troy Carter (D) Cleo Fields (D) Mitch Landrieu (D) Helena Moreno (D) Karen Carter Peterson (D) Other Undecided ALG Research (D) [ 58] November 2–5, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 15% 14% 25% 18% 4% 3% 22% 22% 17% – 24% 7% 4% 22%
Parish Troy Carter Democratic Karen Carter Peterson Democratic Gary Chambers Jr. Democratic Claston Bernard Republican Various candidates Other parties Margin Total votes # % # % # % # % # % # % Ascension 776 33.9 653 28.5 307 13.4 392 17.1 162 7.1 123 5.4% 2,290 Assumption 373 44.9 152 18.3 59 7.1 149 17.9 98 11.8 221 26.6% 831 East Baton Rouge 2,273 26.2 3,045 35.1 2,832 32.6 164 1.9 365 4.2 213 2.5% 8,679 West Baton Rouge 289 20.4 334 23.6 296 20.9 318 22.5 177 12.5 16 1.1% 1,414 Iberville 622 23.9 504 19.3 640 24.6 583 22.4 258 9.9 18 0.7% 2,607 Jefferson 7,702 39.5 3,283 16.8 1,989 10.2 2,902 14.9 3,647 18.7 4,419 22.6% 19,523 Orleans 18,366 38.6 12,055 25.3 12,897 27.1 1,798 3.8 2,514 5.3 5,469 11.5% 47,630 St. Charles 1,037 23.2 476 10.6 334 7.5 1,495 33.4 1,133 25.3 458 10.2% 4,475 St. James 1,238 35.0 553 15.6 317 9.0 990 28.0 437 12.4 248 7.0% 3,535 St. John the Baptist 1,726 48.2 618 17.3 492 13.7 446 12.5 301 8.4 1,108 30.9% 3,583 Total 34,402 36.38 21,673 22.92 20,163 21.32 9,237 9.77 9,092 9.61 12,729 13.46% 94,567
A runoff was held on April 24 betweenTroy Carter andKaren Carter Peterson . In the April 24th runoff, Carter beat Peterson 48,513, 55.2%, to 39,297, 44.8%, with 87,810 votes reported from 100% of precincts.[ 62]
Troy Carter (D)
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Karen Carter Peterson (D)
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Parish Troy Carter Democratic Karen Carter Peterson Democratic Margin Total votes # % # % # % Ascension 1,113 47.5 1,228 52.5 115 5.0% 2,341 Assumption 441 62.6 263 37.4 178 25.2% 704 East Baton Rouge 3,032 35.4 5,542 64.6 2,510 29.2% 8,574 West Baton Rouge 617 48.6 652 51.4 35 2.8% 1,269 Iberville 1,173 48.0 1,272 52.0 99 4.0% 2,445 Jefferson 11,195 67.0 5,524 33.0 5,671 34.0% 16,719 Orleans 24,160 53.0 21,467 47.0 2,693 6.0% 45,627 St. Charles 2,346 70.3 989 29.7 1,357 40.6% 3,335 St. James 2,356 66.2 1,202 33.8 1,357 32.4% 3,558 St. John the Baptist 2,078 64.3 1,156 35.7 922 28.6% 3,234 Totals 48,513 55.25 39,297 44.75 9,216 10.50% 87,810
Additional candidates and polling key
^a b Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear ^ Claston Bernard (R) with 3% ^ "Republican candidates" with 11% and "Another candidate" with 5% ^ Chelsea Ardoin (R), Belden Batiste (I), Harold John (D), J. Christopher Johnson (D), Brandon Jolicoeur (NPP), Jenette Porter (D), Lloyd Kelly (D), Greg Lirette (R), Mindy McConnell (L) and Sheldon Vincent (R) combined with 6%; Claston Bernard (R) with 2% Partisan clients
^ This poll was sponsored by Trust the People PAC, an anti-Troy Carter super PAC. ^ This poll was sponsored by Troy Carter's campaign. ^a b c d e "U. S. Representative – 2nd Congressional District" . Louisiana Secretary of State. March 20, 2021.Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. RetrievedMarch 21, 2021 .^ Murphy, Paul (November 16, 2020)."Cedric Richmond will be Senior Advisor to the President; to resign House seat before inauguration" .WWL-TV .Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. RetrievedNovember 17, 2020 . ^ WBRZ."La. Congressman Cedric Richmond will resign US House to join Biden White House" .WBRZ .Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. RetrievedNovember 17, 2020 . ^ Mucha, Sarah; Krieg, Gregory; Merica, Dan; Sullivan, Kate (November 17, 2020)."Former Black caucus chair Cedric Richmond to leave Congress and join Biden White House" .CNN .Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. 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RetrievedMarch 15, 2021 . ^ Tyler Bridges (March 10, 2021)."In the race to replace Cedric Richmond, see who has the biggest campaign warchest" .NOLA .Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. RetrievedMarch 19, 2021 . ^ Mike Bayham (March 8, 2021)."BAYHAM: A Q&A With Claston Bernard" .The Hayride .Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. RetrievedMarch 14, 2021 . ^ "Taking Back Our Country! Claston Bernard for Congress!" .Soundcloud.com . March 15, 2021.Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. RetrievedMarch 19, 2021 .^ Bridges, Tyler (March 10, 2021)."In the race to replace Cedric Richmond, see who has the biggest campaign warchest" .NOLA.com .Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. RetrievedMarch 19, 2021 . ^a b "Cedric Richmond endorses Troy Carter for Congress" .WDSU . January 18, 2021.Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 18, 2021 .^ Colombus, Danae (March 2, 2021)."Troy Carter leads congressional field, pollster Silas Lee finds" .Uptown Messenger .Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. RetrievedMarch 3, 2021 . ^a b "To replace Cedric Richmond, Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson will meet in runoff" .The Advocate . March 20, 2021.Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. RetrievedMarch 22, 2021 .^a b c d e f "In the race to replace Cedric Richmond, a look at the early lead, the money raised and more" .nola.com . February 2021.Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. RetrievedMarch 4, 2021 .^a b Bridges, Tyler (February 22, 2021)."Troy Carter receives two important endorsements in the race to replace Cedric Richmond" .nola.com .Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. RetrievedFebruary 24, 2021 . ^a b "Mayor Sharon Weston Broome endorses Troy Carter for Louisiana's 2nd Congressional district" .WAFB . March 22, 2021.Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. RetrievedMarch 22, 2021 .^a b "Our endorsements in the March 28th special election" .nola.com . March 5, 2021.Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. RetrievedMarch 5, 2021 .^a b "Recommendations for March 20 Special Election" .Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. RetrievedMarch 19, 2021 .^a b "Our Views: The Times-Picayune endorses Troy Carter for Congress" . theadvocate.com. March 6, 2021.Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. RetrievedMarch 6, 2021 .^a b "Endorsements 2021" . la.aflcio.org. February 1, 2021.Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. RetrievedApril 13, 2021 .^ Carter, Troy (March 6, 2021)."Special Election Endorsements" . twitter.com.Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. RetrievedMarch 6, 2021 . ^ "Gary Chambers Runs For Congress In Special 2021 Election" .YouTube .The Damage Report . January 5, 2021.Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. 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February 22, 2021.Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. RetrievedFebruary 24, 2021 .^ Bridges, Tyler (April 1, 2021)."Progressive vote up for grabs? DA Jason Williams endorses Troy Carter in congressional race" .Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. RetrievedApril 13, 2021 . ^ "Endorsed Candidates" .Forum for Equality PAC .Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. RetrievedMarch 6, 2021 .^ "Gov. Howard Dean Endorses Sen. Karen Carter Peterson for Congress" .YouTube . January 12, 2021.Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. RetrievedApril 14, 2021 .^ "Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District special election, 2021" .Ballotpedia .Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. RetrievedMarch 18, 2021 .^ Reisman, Nick (April 13, 2021)."Rep. Mondaire Jones launches political action committee" .Spectrum Local News .Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. RetrievedApril 14, 2021 . ^ " 'Karen Carter Peterson Needs Our Support!' Joint Fundraising Page with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney" .Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. RetrievedApril 20, 2021 .^ Carolyn B. Maloney [@CarolynBMaloney] (April 24, 2021)."Today is Election Day in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District! Good luck to my dear friend @TeamKCP who has shown time and time again the values, integrity, and know-how that are key to holding elected office" (Tweet ). RetrievedApril 25, 2021 – viaTwitter .^ Bridges, Tyler (April 21, 2021)."Troy Carter, Karen Carter Peterson agree in debate – and attack each other" . Nola.com.Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. RetrievedApril 22, 2021 . ^ Joseph, LeBron (April 7, 2021)."Mayor Latoya Cantrell endorses Carter Peterson in congressional race" .WGNO .Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. RetrievedApril 8, 2021 . ^a b "End Citizens United // Let America Vote Endorse Karen Carter Peterson in LA-02" . April 13, 2021.Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. 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