Louisiana elects first non-white governor in more than a century
Bobby Jindal, 36, carried more than half the vote against 11 opponents. With about 87% of the vote in, Mr Jindal had 53% with 588,002 — more than enough to win outright and avoid a November 17 run-off.
“My mom and dad came to this country in pursuit of the American dream. And guess what happened. They found the American dream to be alive and well right here in Louisiana,” he said to cheers and applause at his victory party.
Mr Jindal, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, had lost the governor’s race four years ago to Kathleen Blanco. He won a congressional seat in conservative suburban New Orleans a year later, but was widely believed to have his eye on the governor’s mansion.
Ms Blanco opted not to run for re-election after she was widely blamed for the state’s slow response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
Mr Jindal will take office in January.
Political analysts said Mr Jindal built up support as a sort of “buyer’s remorse” from people who voted for Ms Blanco last time and had second thoughts about it.
Ms Blanco announced months ago that she would not seek re-election.
Mr Jindal has held a strong lead in the polls since the field of candidates became settled nearly two months ago.
The race was one of the highest-spending in Louisiana history.
Mr Jindal alone raised $11 million (€7m) and John Georges poured about $10m (€7.7m) of his personal wealth into his campaign war chest, while Walter Boasso plugged in nearly $5m of his own cash.
In India, Jindal’s family members were proud, and celebrated with the traditional Punjabi folk dance called bhangra.
“We’re very proud that he has reached such a high position in the US,” said Subhash Jindal, a cousin who runs a pharmacy in the Jindal family’s hometown in Maler Kotla in northern Punjab state.
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