Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana was defeated Saturday night in his bid to become governor of his state by State Rep. John Bel Edwards.
With almost 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bel Edwards was leading Vitter 54-46, and was declared the winner.
Vitter also announced Saturday that he will now decline to run for re-election to the Senate next fall.
Polls consistently showed Edwards leading the runoff election for governor, but by numbers larger than the current margin being reported.
The race was also notable for Vitter’s solid defeat in deep-red Louisiana. Vitter’s involvement in the “D.C. Madam” prostitution scandal of last decade was seen as a factor that played into his unsuccessful bid.
Edwards — a Democrat, but also a social conservative — capitalized on the scandal. He filled Louisiana airwaves with an ad titled “Prostitutes over Patriots,” highlighting his military service and reminding voters that Vitter “answered a prostitute’s call minutes after he skipped a vote honoring 28 soldiers who gave their lives in defense of our freedom.”
The run-off election will let Edwards succeed the term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal, who just dropped out of the presidential race.
