NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)– Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy beat incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu in a runoff election to represent Louisiana in the U.S. Senate. Cassidy surrounded by his family thanked supporters at an election party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge Saturday night.
Cassidy told the crowd, “This victory happened, because the people in Louisiana voted for a government that serves us but does not tell us what to do.”
Cassidy earned 56 percent of the vote. Landrieu earned 44 percent.
Cassidy supporters say the results show that Louisiana voters were ready for some one new to represent them in the senate.
“I think it just goes to show voters in Louisiana are fed up with the direction that President Obama and Mary Landrieu have taken the country over the last six years,” Ben Voelkel, communications director for RNC Louisiana, said. “They want somebody with a positive vision.”
In New Orleans, Cassidy’s opponent, Mary Landrieu met with her supporters and thanked them for their help.
Landrieu told the crowd representing the people of Louisiana was a great honor.
“It has been a great privilege to be able to represent them, to fight for them in Washington.
She later went on to say, “The joy has been in the fight, it’s been a blessing. It’s been a fight worth waging. Louisiana will always be worth fighting for may God always bless us, bless our nation. We thank God for the democracy that we have for the right of people to vote. We honor and accept the decision tonight.”
Cassidy addressed Landrieu supporters in his acceptance speech. He said, “My message to those is that I don’t care that you voted for Senator Landrieu. I am here to serve you too. We can unite as a state and as a country.”
Below is a map showing how each parish voted. Red is for Cassidy, Blue for Landrieu.
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