Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter and Democratic State Rep. John Bel Edwards will face off in a government runoff to be held on Nov. 21 in a bid to succeed Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal as governor of Louisiana.
Vitter defeated fellow Republicans, Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, during the elections held on Saturday, according to The Huffington Post.
Vitter ended up carrying 23 percent of the votes while Edwards gained 40 percent. Vitter's advancement comes after a prostitution scandal in 2007 led to low poll numbers.
"We are going to win this race," Edwards told supporters moments after the polls had closed. 'For eight years our people have been sacrificed on the altar of Bobby Jindal's ambition," he added, in reference to Jindal's quest to gain the presidency.
Edwards then took a swipe at Vitter, calling him "Jindal on steroids." Edwards said he aims to expand Medicaid coverage, increase the funding for higher education and raise the minimum wage, according to International Business Times.
Meanwhile, Vitter hopes to augment the salaries of teachers and additional funding for both childhood and higher education.
While speaking in front of supporters after the polls closed, Vitter criticized Edwards, saying, "Voting for John Bel Edwards would be the same as voting to make Barack Obama governor of Louisiana," according to the Associated Press.
