It is remarkable that he won his district because New Orleans is primarily black and votes democrat. Since Katrina with downsizing of the black population he was able to win (and maybe people have wised up in New Orleans). They also have a large Vietnamese population in Eastern New Orleans. Before Katrina there was one Catholic church in the east with a congregation of 5,000. ( don't know the figure now). He is not in my district but I am glad New Orleans is finally getting a politician with morals and character - they need it.
He won because of an ‘act of God’. Seriously.
A hurricane put him in office... That and laziness on the part of the voters in his community.
William Jefferson - of the $100,000 bribe money in the freezer - didn’t win his primary outright. He needed a runoff.
Hurricane Gustav delayed the runoff election in his district.
So runoff democratic primary was held when everyone else was holding their final election.
Turnout for this election was huge, due to O’s pull. Congressman Jefferson won.
Then a month later, the final election was held.
This was the only election on the ballot.
Interest was low. Turnout was much lower.
Jefferson did not turn out but 1/5th of the voters he did the month prior.