BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) \u2014 Democrat Troy Carter won Saturday\u2019s special election for Louisiana\u2019s vacant U.S. House seat, defeating his state Senate colleague and ending an acrimonious, intraparty clash.<\/p>\n
Carter easily defeated Karen Carter Peterson in the race for Louisiana\u2019s only Democrat-held seat in Congress, handing a victory to the more moderate side of the party after Peterson planted herself firmly in the progressive camp.<\/p>\n
The pair of state senators had only modest policy differences to distinguish them, and the race centered mainly on personality. Carter had the backing, however, of the seat\u2019s predecessor, Cedric Richmond.<\/p>\n
The 2nd District seat \u2014 representing a majority-Black district centered in New Orleans and extending up the Mississippi River into Baton Rouge \u2014 was open because Richmond\u00a0left the position\u00a0shortly after he won last year\u2019s election to work as a special adviser to President Joe Biden. Richmond endorsed Carter, a former New Orleans City Council member, in the race.<\/p>\n
Peterson, the former chair of Louisiana\u2019s Democratic Party, would have been the state\u2019s first Black woman elected to Congress if she had been elected.<\/p>\n
Carter and Peterson reached Saturday\u2019s runoff after they emerged as the\u00a0top vote-getters\u00a0among 15 candidates in the March primary. Carter raised more campaign cash in the competition.<\/p>\n
The two state senators differed more in style than substance, though Peterson positioned herself as the more liberal candidate. In one runoff debate, Peterson described herself as \u201cbold and progressive\u201d and willing to \u201cshake things up to get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter is known more for his ability and willingness to work across party lines, while Peterson is more overtly partisan in her approach. She suggested Carter cozied up to Republicans to boost his campaign, while he said Peterson\u2019s dogmatic approach damaged her ability to pass legislation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to get things done, they need to send someone to Washington who can build bridges, not walls, that can establish relationships that mean something, not kick rocks because you don\u2019t get your way, not spew lies because you\u2019re losing,\u201d Carter said in a debate. \u201cListen, I\u2019ve demonstrated a willingness to work with people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both candidates backed an increase in the minimum wage, the legalization of recreational marijuana and abortion rights. They supported changes in how police agencies and public safety are funded and approached, though Peterson went further saying she backed a \u201ccomplete restructuring.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis system wasn\u2019t built to protect Black and brown people,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can\u2019t just reform the police. We need to reimagine public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Carter and Peterson said they support the idea of \u201cMedicare for All.\u201d But while Peterson fully embraced shifting to a government-run, single-payer plan, Carter said he\u2019d like people to have the option of retaining employer-financed coverage.<\/p>\n
Across the campaign, they traded accusations.<\/p>\n
Carter hit Peterson on her many missed votes in the Louisiana Senate.<\/p>\n
Peterson slammed campaign donations Carter received from people and entities tied to the oil and gas industry. She made support of \u201cenvironmental justice\u201d for poor communities facing greater health risks from pollution one of the cornerstones of her campaign.<\/p>\n
Carter hammered Peterson for suggesting she helped establish Louisiana\u2019s Medicaid expansion program, which was started by Gov. John Bel Edwards and required no legislation. He noted that when she was head of the Democratic Party, she discouraged Edwards from running for governor.<\/p>\n
They each touted high-profile endorsements.<\/p>\n
Peterson had backing from voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, progressive U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, among others.<\/p>\n
In addition to Richmond\u2019s endorsement, Carter had backing from No. 3 House Democratic leader James Clyburn of South Carolina, New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams and every Black member of the state Senate besides Peterson.<\/p>\n
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