LAFAYETTE, La. — It was a family affair as Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle conceded his bid to be Louisiana’s next governor Saturday night. Despite the loss, the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette, Louisiana was full of loud laughs and good times, with seemingly every other person at the event wearing a nametag with the last name “Angelle.”
Angelle carried districts his campaign expected to, beating U.S. Senator David Vitter by more than ten thousand votes in Lafayette parish.
The poll watchers began in high spirits, with Angelle looking like he would best Vitter and make it into the runoff with John Bel Edwards. The energy slowly declined until the partygoers were ushered into the auditorium to watch the concession speech.
According to cousin Dustin Angelle’s estimate, more than 100 family members were at the party.
“That’s not extended family,” he said. “My dad’s family alone is over a hundred.”
Another family member said his garage was a mess from campaigning, even though his house was completed years ago.
The focus on family continued as Angelle took the stage. Sister Sledge & Jade’s 1979 hit “We Are Family,” played as his children followed him on stage.
“I’m very thankful for the children I have,” Angelle said.
He thanked his children for staying polite and keeping their cool throughout a contentious campaign season with at-times negative coverage.
In true Acadiana fashion, Angelle also thanked his parents and his six living siblings before finally turning to the race.
His concession speech did not reference the other candidates by name, and he did not endorse Republican runoff candidate U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who Angelle recently called out at a televised debate for an alleged prostitution scandal.
His failure to mention either Edwards or Vitter in his speech leaves ambiguity for who he’ll endorse. It would be a huge turnaround for Angelle to endorse Vitter for governor after repeatedly attacking both his record and his character.
Instead, he kept an optimistic outlook bringing out one of his signature phrases from his campaign, “Louisiana’s best days are ahead of us.”
The loudest cheer erupted when Angelle promised his return, saying Louisiana had not seen the last of him.
“You will hear from me again.”

Gallery • 8 Photos

Nicholas Martino

Scott Angelle stands with family and supporters as he makes his concession speech on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette.