On November 2, 2010, Louisiana held midterm elections for a U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House of Representative races for Districts 1-7. In the Senate race, incumbent Republican David Vitter defeated Democrat Charlie Melancon by receiving 715,304 votes (56.6%) compared to the 476,423 votes (38%) received by Melancon.http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana In the House races, two Republican candidates, Rodney Alexander and Charles Boustany ran unopposed. Incumbents John Fleming, Bill Cassidy and Steve Scalise held on to win over their challengers. In Districts 2 and 3, there were party changes with Democrat Cedric Richmond defeating Republican incumbent Joseph Cao and Republican Jeff Landry defeating Democrat Ravi Sangisetty.http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2010/results/state/#val=LA

Voters need to be registered as a Louisiana resident to be able to participate in Louisiana state elections.http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/457/Default.aspx Those residents who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and have since moved house, can still vote using their previous Louisiana address, provided they do no register to vote at another state election. http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/457/Default.aspx

Louisiana was granted statehood in April 1812.http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lOSvzYLs3tMC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=louisiana+granted+statehood&source=bl&ots=AFgyB90yF2&sig=r3sTjIj-fTx8565LXgULjSu7ky0&hl=en&ei=P9gUTKi8GYnu0wSn44SICg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=louisiana%20granted%20statehood&f=false Louisiana’s population of around 4,468,976 qualifies them to nine electoral votes in presidential elections.http://www.50states.com/louisian.htm Louisiana’s previous elections have been favored towards Republican mecca with two of the last three elections being won by a Republican candidate. In 1992 and 1996, elections resulted in the appointment of two Democrats.http://www.270towin.com/states/Louisiana

Louisiana first party primary election took place on August 28, 2010, while General Election took place on November 2, 2010. http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/Portals/0/elections/pdf/Copyofelections10061009.pdf

Louisiana general election results

• U.S. Senate
  • David Vitter: 715,304 - 56.6%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
  • Charlie Melancon: 476,423 - 37.7%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• U.S. House of Representatives District 1
  • Scalise - 78.5%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
  • Katz - 19.2%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• U.S. House of Representatives District 2
  • Richmond - 64.6%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
  • Cao - 33.5%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• U.S. House of Representatives District 3
  • Landry - 63.8%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
  • Sangisetty - 36.2%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• U.S. House of Representatives District 4
• Fleming - 62.3%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• Melville - 32.4%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• U.S. House of Representatives District 5
  • Alexander - 78.6%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
  • Other - 21.4%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• U.S. House of Representatives District 6
  • Cassidy - 65.6%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
  • McDonald - 34.4%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• U.S. House of Representatives District 7
  • Boustany - Ran uncontestedhttp://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Lieutenant Governor
  • Jay Dardenne: 719,243 - 57.1%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
  • Caroline Fayard: 540,633 - 42.9%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Government pay raises take effect in subsequent term
• Yes: 72.5%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 27.5%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Reduce taxes on natural resources
• Yes: 58.1%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 41.9%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Increase property tax exemption for disabled veterans
• Yes: 64.8%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 35.2%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Limit property tax increases
• Yes: 47.8%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 52.2%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Continue homestead exemption for property destroyed by disaster
• Yes: 61.8%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 38.2%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Require two-thirds vote for public retirement benefit changes
• Yes: 65.0%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 35.0%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Change rules for tax sale bidding
• Yes: 45.0%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 55.0%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Property may be permanently taken for public safety or health
• Yes: 51.4%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 48.6%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Workers' compensation claim changes require 5-judge panel
• Yes: 57.3%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 42.7%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• Require trial waiver to be 45 days in advance
• Yes: 55.1%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana
• No: 44.9%http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana

• 2008 Presidential Election Winner: Barack Obamahttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#val=LA

• Winner of Louisiana's Nine Electoral Votes: John McCainhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#val=LA
• Margin of victory: 59% to 40%http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#val=LA

• Winner of Louisiana's Senate Seat: Senator Mary Landrieuhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#val=LA
• Margin of victory: 52% to 46%http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#val=LA

• Winner of Louisiana Gubernatorial Election: Bobby Jindalhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/LA/
• Margin of victory: 88% to 7%http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/LA/

• 2004 Presidential Election Winner: George W. Bushhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/LA/

• Winner of Louisiana's Nine Electoral Votes: George W. Bushhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/LA/
• Margin of victory: 57 to 42%http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/LA/

• Winner of Louisiana Senate Seat: David Vitterhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/LA/
• Margin of victory: 51% to 29%http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/LA/