Carter, a former New Orleans city council member, was the more moderate candidate in the runoff and ran as someone willing to work across the aisle. His opponent, fellow Democratic state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson (no relation), ran on a more progressive platform.
While the election doesn’t alter the balance of power in the House, it does fill a seat that’s been vacant for months, giving Democrats — who enjoy a narrow majority — slightly more breathing room. The race in this majority Black district that stretches from New Orleans to Baton Rouge was also an early test of the direction of the Democratic Party three months into Biden’s presidency.
Crucially, Carter earned the early endorsement of the man whose seat he’ll be filling, former Rep. Cedric Richmond. Richmond resigned his seat in January to join the Biden White House.
Carter led in the first round of voting last month, where he took about 36% of the vote to Peterson’s 23%. Since no candidate cleared 50% in that round, the race went to a runoff as required by state law.
Carter was more comfortable embracing the establishment banner, casting himself as an effective legislator and touting his endorsements from Richmond, South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, Louisiana teachers’ unions, and the Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO.
He will be the only Democrat representing the Bayou State in Congress. The state’s other five representatives and two senators are all Republicans.
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