2021 Louisiana's 2nd congressional district special election

The 2021 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 representative Cedric Richmond announced that he would resign from the United States House of Representatives to serve as the director of the Office of Public Liaison and as a Senior Advisor to Joe Biden. He did so on January 15, 2021, and took his new job when Biden assumed office on January 20, 2021. When congressional seats in Louisiana become vacant, the governor has the ability to call a special election at any time. The special election to fill Louisiana's 2nd congressional district took place on March 20, and a runoff was held on April 24. Troy Carter won the runoff election on April 24, 2021, against fellow Democrat Karen Peterson.

Primary candidates

Democratic Party Of the Democratic candidates, Troy Carter, a state senator, Karen Carter Peterson, a state senator and former chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, and Gary Chambers, an activist, were considered the frontrunners. Of these candidates, Carter was considered to be moderate, while Peterson and Chambers were considered to be progressives. 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%. Chambers' result was considered an overperformance, as he significantly outdid his polling numbers. On March 29, Chambers endorsed Peterson.

Declared Troy Carter, state senator and candidate for this seat in 2006 Gary Chambers Jr., activist and candidate for Louisiana State Senate district 15 in 2019 Harold John, postal worker J. Christopher Johnson, activist Lloyd M. Kelly Desiree Ontiveros, small business owner Karen Carter Peterson, state senator, former chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, and runoff-advanced candidate for this seat in 2006 Jenette M. Porter, small business owner

Republican Party

Declared Chelsea Ardoin, HR professional Claston Bernard, decathlete Greg Lirette, information technology professional Sheldon C. Vincent Sr., retired postal worker

Libertarian Party

Declared Mindy McConnell, principal

No party affiliation

Declared Belden "Noonie Man" Batiste, activist and perennial candidate Brandon Jolicoeur, actor

Endorsements

Jungle primary

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TroyCarter(D) KarenCarterPeterson(D) GaryChambersJr.(D) DesireeOntiveros(D) Other UndecidedEdgewater Research/My People VoteEdgewater Research/My People VoteMarch 2–7, 2021651 (LV)± 3.8%35%24%11%–16%15%LexthomResearch and Development, LLCLexthomResearch and Development, LLCFebruary 26 – March 3, 20211,067 (LV)± 3.0%23%17%13%4%3%40%Trust the People PAC (D)February 21–22, 2021620 (LV)± 4.0%24%23%6%2%16%29%Silas Lee & Associates (D)Silas Lee & Associates (D)February 12–14, 2021450 (LV)± 3.5%28%19%6%2%8%38%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TroyCarter(D) CleoFields(D) MitchLandrieu(D) HelenaMoreno(D) KarenCarterPeterson(D) Other UndecidedALG Research (D)ALG Research (D) November 2–5, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 15% 14% 25% 18% 4% 3% 22% 22% 17% – 24% 7% 4% 22%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report March 19, 2021 Inside Elections March 19, 2021 Sabato's Crystal Ball March 18, 2021

Results

By parish ParishTroy CarterDemocraticKaren Carter PetersonDemocraticGary Chambers Jr.DemocraticClaston BernardRepublicanVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal 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 4.22132.5% 8,679 West Baton Rouge 289 20.4334 23.6 296 20.9 318 22.5 177 12.5 161.1% 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% 3,583Total34,40236.3821,67322.9220,16321.329,2379.779,0929.6112,72913.46%94,567

Runoff

A runoff was held on April 24 between Troy Carter and Karen 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.Louisiana 2nd District U.S. House special election results , The Washington Post, April 25, 2021.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report March 19, 2021 Inside Elections April 23, 2021 Sabato's Crystal Ball April 15, 2021

Endorsements

Results

By parish ParishTroy CarterDemocraticKaren Carter PetersonDemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Ascension 1,113 47.51,22852.51155.0% 2,341 Assumption44162.6 263 37.417825.2% 704 East Baton Rouge 3,032 35.45,54264.62,51029.2% 8,574 West Baton Rouge 617 48.665251.4352.8% 1,269 Iberville 1,173 48.01,27252.0994.0% 2,445 Jefferson11,19567.0 5,524 33.05,67134.0% 16,719 Orleans24,16053.0 21,467 47.02,6936.0% 45,627 St. Charles2,34670.3 989 29.71,35740.6% 3,335 St. James2,35666.2 1,202 33.81,35732.4% 3,558 St. John the Baptist2,07864.3 1,156 35.792228.6% 3,234 Totals 48,513 55.25 39,297 44.75 9,216 10.50% 87,810

Notes Additional candidates and polling key

Partisan clients

References

External links

Official campaign websites Troy Carter (D) for Congress Karen Carter Peterson (D) for Congress