10 December 2016
PAST POSTSFoster Campbell can be elected today in Louisiana and Democrats would pick up a Senate seat.
Louisiana's race is decided later than all other states because of its unusual election system, in which all candidates compete in a nonpartisan primary on the regular November election date, but then the top two candidates advance to a runoff election around a month later.Currently republicans.
Public Service Commissioner – and jovial cattle farmer – Foster Campbell faces off against Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy, a twice-failed Senate candidate, today, Dec. 10th.
Campbell has a legitimate shot to upset his opponent the same way Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards did in 2015. Yes, Louisiana has a Democratic governor.
Republicans control the newly elected Senate 52-48. A Campbell victory would reduce those numbers to 51-49 and the occasional break with the majority by a Collins or a Graham or a Rand Paul could well stop pieces of the Republican or Trump agenda.
The consequences of a Kennedy victory would also make it much harder for Democrats to take over the Senate in 2018. The 2018 map tilts heavily in the Republicans' favor — more seats currently held by Democrats will be up for election. And even if Democrats hold on to all their seats, they have only two realistic pickup opportunities. (At least, that's how it looks at the moment.)
If Mike Pence is Vice President casting the tie-breaking vote, a two-seat pickup would still leave Republicans in control of the chamber. But if Campbell were to win on today and Democrats go on to take control of two additional seats in 2018 (without losing any they already hold), we would be in the majority. If Campbell loses, that means Trump, if he is President, will likely have a Senate majority for his entire first term in office.
Let's get out the vote and win this one. Foster Campbell for Senate. Today in Louisiana.
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December 10, 2016