Independent Democrat Files Against Cazayoux

Democratic state Rep. Michael Jackson has filed to run against Rep. Don Cazayoux (D-La.) as an independent candidate, seriously hampering the Democratic incumbent’s prospects of winning reelection.

Jackson, who is black, has a sizable constituency among the heavily African-American parts of East Baton Rouge Parish — one of the Democratic bases of the district. He ran against Cazayoux unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary but carried his home base in East Baton Rouge Parish.

A split Democratic party vote in the district would make it very difficult for Cazayoux to win re-election, Democrats privately acknowledge.

This development follows news that controversial Republican nominee Woody Jenkins decided not to run again, who Cazayoux defeated in this year’s special election to succeed former GOP Rep. Richard Baker (R-La.). The Republicans' nominee now is state Sen. Bill Cassidy, who Republican officials view much more favorably. Cassidy was the only Republican to qualify for the ballot.

The suburban Baton Rouge district leans Republican at the presidential level, giving President Bush 59 percent of the vote in 2004.  Democratic successes here have been based on turning on the district's sizable African-American vote, which comprises about one-third of the district.  Jackson's candidacy now complicates that formula.

This wouldn’t be the first time in recent years that a racially split Democratic party could benefit Louisiana Republicans. In 2004, Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) won election in large part because one of the leading African-American candidates, Don Cravins, refused to endorse the eventual Democratic nominee.

Ironically, Cravins’ son is now the Democrats’ likely nominee against Boustany and is viewed as one of the party’s leading recruits.