GOP captures two La. House runoffs

Republican candidates won two congressional runoff races in Louisiana on Saturday, officially giving the GOP its largest House majority since World War II.

Tea Party upstart Garret Graves (R) easily defeated colorful former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards (D) in the deeply conservative 6th district.

{mosads}Edwards, 87, surprised political watchers with his comeback attempt. He served in the House for seven years before four terms as governor. In 2001, he was convicted on federal racketeering charges from time he spent in office, serving eight years in prison.

Edwards finished atop the field of candidates in the jungle primary with 30 percent, but the split GOP field took more than 60 percent, with Graves leading the way at 27 percent. 

The candidates were running to replace Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who was on pace to knock off incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on Saturday.

And Dr. Ralph Abraham (R) beat longtime Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo (D) in the 5th district.

Abraham bested a large and diverse group of Republicans in the jungle primary. “Duck Dynasty” family member Zach Dasher and incumbent Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) were also in the race. McAllister was at the center of controversy after a video emerged of him kissing a congressional staffer who was not his wife.

Mayo faced a huge uphill battle, as the Republicans in the field combined to take 70 percent in the jungle primary.