Secretary of State Jay Dardenne recently announced that he would not run for the U.S. Senate this year in the Republican primary. Dardenne had been encouraged by many long time Louisiana Republicans who are unhappy with the leading Republican candidate in the race, State Treasurer John Kennedy, a newcomer to the GOP. Dardenne has a long history in the Republican Party, serving 15 years in the State Senate. In 2006, he was elected as Secretary of State and won re-election the next year, receiving more votes than any other statewide candidate in that election.
Dardenne may challenge the vulnerable Republican U.S. Senator David Vitter in the 2010 GOP primary, but he also has another option. Dardenne lives in the 6th Congressional District, which just had a special election to replace the veteran congressman Richard Baker.
In the nasty and expensive race, Democrat State Representative Donald Cazayoux defeated former State Representative and newspaper publisher Woody Jenkins. In fact, Cazayoux just took the oath of office and will help bolster the Democratic majority in the U.S. Congress. Because it was a special election and only finishes Baker’s term, Cazayoux will have to face the voters again this fall. Usually, a politician is most vulnerable right after being elected. If Cazayoux can win this upcoming election, the chances are that he will be in Congress for many years to come.
Should the Republicans write off this district or ask Dardenne to challenge him? Dardenne would be the strongest GOP challenger to take on the new congressman. Dardenne is a mainstream conservative who could unite the party and attract more independent and conservative Democrats than Jenkins did in his losing bid.
To succeed, Dardenne would need more support than Jenkins received from the National Republican Congressional Committee. In the last race, Jenkins was woefully under-funded and outspent by his Democratic opponent.
The 6th District is a historically Republican district. Losing this race is not a good sign for the state or national party. The GOP should heed this wake-up call and figure out how to appeal to the voters, who are angry about a poor economy, rising gasoline prices and an unpopular war in Iraq. In the fall, placing Secretary of State Jay Dardenne on the ballot is the best way to win back the seat and return this seat back to the GOP column.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
Well the Dems controlling the 6th District was completely foreseeable after so many refugees moved there following Katrina. What irked me then was that these voters - who changed the demographics in this traditionally Republican district were allowed to vote in the New Orleans mayor's race as though they were still living in New Orleans. I do hope there are some Democrats - including black Democrats - who will at least admit to themselves that this was unethical and wrong. Perhaps it is simply what it so obviously appears to be - "the end justifies the means." Written by kpf
on 5/12/2008
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Secretary of State Jay Dardenne recently announced that he would not run for the U.S. Senate this year in the Republican primary. Dardenne had been encouraged by many long time Louisiana Republicans who are unhappy with the leading Republican candidate in the race, State Treasurer John Kennedy, a newcomer to the GOP. Dardenne has a long history in the Republican Party, serving 15 years in the State Senate. In 2006, he was elected as Secretary of State and won re-election the next year, receiving more votes than any other statewide candidate in that election. 
