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Home Front: Politix
Newcomer McAllister Wins Special Election in Louisiana
2013-11-18
[ATR.ROLLCALL] GOP businessman Vance McAllister won a special election in Louisiana's 5th District Saturday night, stunning the heir apparent in the contest to become the next member of Congress.

McAllister, a self-funding newcomer, defeated Republican state Sen. Neil Riser 58 percent to 42 percent, with 78 percent of precincts reporting, according to the News Agency that Dare Not be Named.

Riser had long been considered a shoo-in to win the special election to replace Rep. Rodney Alexander, who resigned over the summer to take a post in Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration.

In the Oct. 16 open primary, Riser captured 32 percent of the vote to McAllister's 18 percent, making him the favorite going into Saturday's race.

Riser also raised more and spent more than McAllister did, and he had the backing of House GOP leadership, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and many House Republicans from Louisiana.

However McAllister's self-described "outsider" status, as well as some help from the popular reality show family featured on "Duck Dynasty," helped him pull out a win in the race.
Uncle Phester also posted this story and notes:
"A handful of Washington GOP suicide vest wearers operatives tried to get one of the members of the Duck Dynasty family to run for the seat, but failed."
Posted by:Fred

#11  John, I fear it is not. The Republican establishment will fight tooth and nail for their candidates. If their candidates don't win the primaries, they will withdraw support.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2013-11-18 17:55  

#10  I wonder if this is the beginning of a true conservative anti-establishment sweep in Nov. '14?
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-11-18 17:31  

#9  Any more this isnt so much a battle of conservative versus liberal, but ruling versus governing.
Posted by: OldSpook   2013-11-18 15:10  

#8  Duck Dynasty folks also went in heavy for McAllister. Not sure I'd call one or the other more conservative. The only sure thing is that this is a safe R seat and the establishment guy lost - exactly the sort of thing the McCains of the world fear most.
Posted by: Iblis   2013-11-18 13:49  

#7  McAllister came out in partial support of Zero-care at one point, which would have pulled in a chunk of Democratic voters.
Posted by: Glenmore   2013-11-18 12:36  

#6  I hadn't noticed this election going on, but then again I don't have a TV or newspaper subscription.

Glenmore, you're saying McAllister was the more liberal of the two, and won with democrat help?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2013-11-18 12:01  

#5  Republican District but the runoff was between two Republicans, with Democrats also voting, so not a big surprise that it went to the more liberal Republican.
Posted by: Glenmore   2013-11-18 07:46  

#4  More evidence of political change.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-11-18 03:44  

#3  Perhaps Krauthammer is right, and our little experiment with socialism is coming to an end.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-11-18 03:10  

#2  Listen to We The People and represent us

Here, Here, OldSpook - well reasoned and said...

Posted by: Au Auric   2013-11-18 00:32  

#1  Thumb in the eye of the DC beltway elites. This election shows how the grass roots can (and must) fix whats wrong with the GOP. Cantor, Boehner and the GOP inside the beltway need to simply shut the f up and stop telling us what we are supposed to do (and attempting to force their anointed princes on us), and instead listen to We The People and represent us.
Posted by: OldSpook   2013-11-18 00:27  

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