Democratic leader of Louisiana state Senate wins congressional seat vacated by Cedric Richmond

Troy Carter, the Democratic leader of the Louisiana state Senate, on Saturday won a special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Cedric Richmond when he joined the Biden administration.

Carter defeated fellow state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson in the heavily Democratic 2nd district covering New Orleans to Baton Rouge, The Associated Press reported.

Richmond served the district from 2011 until this January when he became director of the White House’s Office of Public Engagement.