Jefferson wins Louisiana runoff

NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Rep. William Jefferson easily defeated a fellow Democrat in a runoff election Saturday, despite an ongoing federal bribery investigation.

With 71 percent of the precincts reporting, Jefferson, Louisiana's first black congressman since Reconstruction, led with 57 percent of the vote over state Rep. Karen Carter.

Carter was unable to capitalize on a scandal that included allegations that the FBI found $90,000 in bribe money in Jefferson's freezer.

In a concession speech, Carter embraced family members and pledged to work with Jefferson, especially on the area's recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

Jefferson was forced into the runoff against Carter when he failed to win 50 percent of the vote in a crowded open multiparty primary. Carter had sought to become the first black woman from Louisiana elected to Congress.

Jefferson, 59, was accused of taking bribes from a company seeking lucrative contracts in the Nigerian telecommunications market. He has not been charged with any crime and denies any wrongdoing.

The scandal turned the race into a debate largely divided along racial lines, an age-old dynamic in this city that has intensified since Hurricane Katrina displaced large numbers of blacks and upended their demographic and political dominance.

Whites, who overwhelmingly voted for Carter in the primary and have been her most enthusiastic financial backers, believed a Jefferson win would confirm this city's image as corrupt and untrustworthy as it asks the nation to fund its recovery from Katrina.