Republicans won the candidacy in every major position on the ballot in the Louisiana elections, that took place on Saturday, October 22 across the state.
All official election information can be found on Louisiana Secretary of State website.
Republican candidate Bobby Jindal was reelected governor, receiving 66 percent of the vote. The next closest candidate for governor was Democrat Tara Hollis, who received just 18 percent of the vote. Out of over one million votes, Jindal received over 670,000 of the votes and Hollis received fewer than 190,000 votes.
Monica Sicomo, a freshman graphic design major, said that she voted at the Northshore Square Mall in Slidell.
“I am actually glad that Bobby Jindal got elected governor for a second term,” said Sicomo. “I am overall happy with the results of the election.”
Republican Jay Dardenne was elected lieutenant governor over Billy Nungesser. Out of almost one million votes for this office, Dardenne received approximately 504,541 votes, taking 53 percent of the overall votes.
For Louisiana Secretary of State, the percentages came to 50 percent for both republican candidates Tom Schedler and Jim Tucker. However, Schedler received about 8,500 more votes than Tucker, so Schedler took the position.
Michael G. Strain, the Republican candidate running for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, and Jim Donelon, the Republican candidate running for Commissioner of Insurance, were both elected, receiving 67 percent of the vote in their respective positions.
In addition to these political offices, five proposed amendments were also on the ballot on Oct. 22.
Amendment one, which involves taking a portion of money that would go to the Millennium Trust from the Tobacco Master Settlement and putting it towards TOPS, was approved by a 70 percent vote. Also, this amendment added a cigarette tax that would provide for the Health Excellence Fund, which provides health care for Louisiana’s children, starting on July 1, 2012.
Jacob Currier, a sophomore history major, said that he voted in Amite at the Agriculture Building and supported this amendment.
“I just knew more money would be going to TOPS,” said Currier. “It was an expected win. Anything with TOPS you kind of expect to pass. All parents want their kids to go to college with TOPS.”
Amendment two on the ballot required that in Fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, five percent of the state’s money labeled nonrecurring must go towards the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana. It further requires that in the fiscal year 2015-2016 and every fiscal year after that ten percent of the nonrecurring revenue go towards the same. This amendment was passed by a 59 percent vote.
The third amendment on the ballot was also passed. It authorizes the legislature to establish a private fund, to be called the Patient’s Compensation Fund, for medical malpractice claimants and private health care members.