Louisiana runoffs are set

A trio of special-election runoffs were set Saturday in two Louisiana congressional races, with GOPers Woody Jenkins and state Sen. Steve Scalise looking like the favorites for their party’s nomination.

Each narrowly missed the 50 percent threshold to avoid a runoff.

{mosads}Jenkins, a former state House member and Senate candidate, was less than 50 votes away from avoiding the runoff, taking 49.9 percent. He will face businesswoman Laurinda Calongne, who took 25 percent, in the GOP runoff for former Rep. Richard Baker’s (R) seat.

On the Democratic side, state Reps. Don Cazayoux and Michael Jackson are headed for the runoff after taking 35 and 27 percent, respectively.

The GOP runoff in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) former House district will likely produce the special-election winner. Scalise took 48 percent and will face state Rep. Tim Burns, who took 28 percent.

Despite the gap, a regional rivalry between the north shore and south shore of Lake Pontchartrain means that Burns could gain support by consolidating his base of support on the north shore. He and another north shore candidate combined for nearly half the vote.

The winner will face Democrat Gilda Reed.

The runoffs are set for April 5, with the special general election on May 3.