History Made In Louisiana As Republican Candidate Elected Governor
Posted by: SB Insider | 10/20/2007 9:47 PM
Some interesting national news of historic proportions.
Voters today in the state of Louisiana elected a new governor. Republican US Congressman Bobby Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants, was selected by Louisiana voters to succeed Democratic incumbent Governor Kathleen Blanco. Blanco, who was widely criticized for her handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005, wisely chose not to stand for re-election.
Ironically, it was Kathleen Blanco who eked out a narrow victory over Bobby Jindal in 2003.
Congressman Jindal scored an impressive 53% in today's race, where he faced several opponents in Louisiana's unique blanket primary election. Jindal's result means he avoids a November runoff. Governor-elect Jindal will be sworn in January 2008.
Jindal's election is a historic milestone. At 36, Jindal becomes is the first "Generation Xer" to win any US state's top post. Congressman Bobby Jindal is also the first member of a racial minority to be elected as Louisiana's governor since Reconstruction.
Bobby Jindal will also be the highest ranking Indo-American elected official in Louisiana. Less than two percent of the state is of Asian Indian heritage.
In welcoming the Louisiana election result, the Republican Governors Association's political wing immediately issued a congratulatory statement. "The Louisiana governor's race was the premier race in the nation this election season," stated Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, chair of the RGA. "Bobby showed that Republicans can win, and win big, when they run on ideas."
Bobby Jindal is just the third Republican to win the seat in the past forty years. Jindal's main issues were ending political corruption, improving education funding, and rebuilding areas still affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Read the Associated Press news story here.
Congratulations to Congressman Bobby Jindal for winning this crucial election and securing his spot in American history.
A side note: Red County San Bernardino will soon present a clever campaign spot from the Jindal camp.
