Voters Oust Indicted Congressman In Louisiana

Rep. William Jefferson (pictured right) was defeated by a little-known Republican yesterday, underscoring the sharp demographic shifts in this city since Hurricane Katrina and handing Republicans an unexpected victory in a district that had been solidly Democratic. The upset victory by a Vietnamese-born lawyer, Anh Cao, was thought by analysts to be the result of a strong turnout by white voters angered over federal corruption charges against Rep. Jefferson, a liberal Democrat who was counting on a loyal base to return him to Congress for a 10th term.

A majority of the district’s voters are black, and analysts said lower turnout in the majority black precincts meant victory for the Republican. Mr. Cao had 49% of the vote to 46% for Rep. Jefferson. In heavily white precincts, turnout was about 26%, while it was only about 12% in the heavily black precincts, said Greg Rigamer, a New Orleans demographer and analyst.

Besides changing demographics that is creating a less black New Orleans than before Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Rigamer also suggested that the corruption charges against Rep. Jefferson pushed whites to the polls in unusual numbers.

Shunned by national Democratic Party figures and low on money because of his pending trial, Rep. Jefferson was counting on — and appeared to be getting — strong support from local leaders. In 2006, he was handily re-elected though the bribery scandal had already been aired. This year, a number of the city’s top black pastors announced their support for him just days before the election. However, Mr. Cao, promising ethics and integrity, offered voters a break from the scandals associated with the incumbent.

Rep. Jefferson, 61, awaits trial on federal counts of soliciting bribes, money laundering and other offenses. Prosecutors contend that he used his Congressional office to broker deals in African nations, and received more than $500,000 in bribes.

Mr. Cao, 41 and known as Joseph, fled Vietnam at age 8 after the fall of Saigon. His father was a army officer who was later imprisoned for seven years by the Communist government. Mr. Cao, who has never held elective office, has been an advocate for the small but prominent Vietnamese community here and has a master’s degree in philosophy from Fordham University.

Booker Rising response: Who can forget the $90,000 in cash that Rep. Jefferson allegedly stashed in his freezer? The district will probably revert back to the Democrats in 2010. If so, hopefully a black Blue Dog Democrat can get that seat and bring some ideological diversity to the Congressional Black Caucus. That is, unless Rep.-Elect Cao crafts a good strategy. Memo to the Republican Party: this is an opportunity for you to build a bridge with black voters.