Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard will compete in a runoff for the office of lieutenant governor after beating six other candidates in Saturday’s sparsely attended election.
Dardenne, a Republican, earned 28 percent of the vote; Fayard, a Democrat, earned 24 percent. Lafayette-area country entertainer Sammy Kershaw earned 19 percent, and all other candidates earned less than 10 percent.
Dardenne, who served as an influential state legislator before serving as Secretary of State, polled the highest and raised the most money before the election.
Fayard, who has worked at the White House and with the Goldman Sachs investing firm, also raised considerable sums after receiving former President Bill Clinton’s endorsement.
Dardenne and Fayard will compete on the same Nov. 2 ballot as the contentious U.S. Senate race between incumbent David Vitter, R-La., and Democratic congressman Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville.
Both statewide constitutional amendments on the ballot Saturday passed.
The first aligns the dates of Louisiana legislative sessions with other legislatures nationwide.
The second amendment removes the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from the State Civil Service.
Locally, East Baton Rouge Parish voters elected Toni Higginbotham and John Guidry as district judges.
LSU mass communication professor Craig Freeman was one of 16 school board members elected Saturday.
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Contact Matthew Albright at [email protected]