The state’s senior Senator, Dr. Bill Cassidy is up for reelection Tuesday against a packed field of 14 opponents.
UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross projected the race will end Tuesday night without heading to a December run-off that is unless voters get “confused” by the long list of names.
“It could be that voters who are not well informed arrive at the polls and they are not sure who to vote for or which one they were told who to vote for, or which one is the favorite or which one is the incumbent and so on,” said Cross.
Only one other Republican is on the ballot, Dustin Murphy of Eros. Eight Third Party, Independent, or No Party candidates are also on the list.
Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins headlines the five Democrats running to replace Cassidy, but Cross said his lack of statewide name recognition likely dooms him this year.
“Because of COVID and because national politics, particularly the Presidential Race are just sucking all of the air out of the dialog,” said Cross.
Baton Rouge activist and Democrat Antoine Peirce appears likely to take third place in the race as the second most prominent Democrat among the five running.
Cross has also been following the race for the 3rd District southwest Louisiana Congressional seat held by Congressman Clay Higgins. He expects Higgins to win 50 to 55 percent and avoid a run-off.
“No prominent Democrats have stepped up to challenge him and no Republicans looking to move up from the House or Senate stepped up to challenge him so even though he didn’t raise a lot of money I expect him to go back fairly easily,” said Cross.
None of the other four incumbent Louisiana Congressmen are expected to face much of a reelection challenge either.
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