Edwards elected governor; Nungesser takes lieutenant spot

NEW ORLEANS -- Democrat John Bel Edwards is projected to win the Louisiana governor’s race over U.S. Sen. David Vitter, according to multiple news outlets.
Vitter conceded the race just before 9:30 p.m.
As the main Democratic Party champion, Edwards — a state representative from Amite who is House minority leader — helped the party elect one of its own to statewide office for the first time since 2008.
In the primary, Edwards received 40 percent of the vote — far ahead of projections. Vitter had 23 percent.
As little as three-to-four months ago, Vitter, of Metairie, was predicted to walk away with a spot in the runoff election. Back in July, he had raised more money than his opponents put together, and polls found he had overwhelming support.
But in the waning days of the campaign, Vitter saw those numbers slip as voters were relentlessly reminded of his 2007 admission that he had committed an unspecified sin and had asked for forgiveness.
Former Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser defeated Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden to become Louisiana’s next lieutenant governor.
After a hard-fought race between Nungesser and Jefferson Parish President John Young that featured some of the nastiest ads of the primary, Nungesser squeaked into the runoff against Holden by fewer than 11,500 votes. Holden and Nungesser then pledged to run positive campaigns, which featured no attack ads and only minor points of difference between the two men.