The Latest: GOP's Vitter advances to runoff against Edwards

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The latest on elections in which Louisiana voters are making their choice for governor and other statewide races (all times local):

__

9:38 p.m.

Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter bested two fellow GOP rivals to reach a runoff in the Louisiana governor's race. He'll face Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards on the Nov. 21 ballot to determine a successor to Republican presidential contender and term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, both Republicans, split the anti-Vitter vote in Saturday's election, allowing Vitter to secure a spot on the runoff ballot.

Months ago, Vitter was atop the polls, flush with millions in campaign cash and running like an incumbent.

But amid continued talk of his 2007 prostitution scandal, Vitter's poll numbers had fallen and his negatives spiked among voters. That had raised questions earlier as to whether one of his opponents might squeak by him. Vitter, however, maintained a strong conservative base that carried him into the runoff.

__

8:59

Democrat John Bel Edwards has secured a spot in the Nov. 21 runoff to decide who will be Louisiana's next governor.

With a base of Democratic Party support, Edwards easily advanced Saturday to the two-man race to decide who will follow term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal into office. Edwards, a state representative, was the lone major Democratic candidate on the ballot.

Nine candidates for governor are in the race, but the race comes down to four major contenders: Edwards, Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter.

While his three GOP opponents struck at each other, Edwards saved most of his criticism for Jindal, who Edwards blamed for cratering the state's finances. Edwards said his rivals each represent a Jindal third term.

Join the conversation about this story »