>> THIS IS COMMITMENT 2020 ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE.
>> NOW AT 10 SO MANY RACES JUST TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
BUT YOU’RE SITTING IN ONE THAT HAS BEEN CALLED NO SURPRISES PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS CLINCHED LOUISIANA.
>> RESULTS ARE ROLLING IN AS WE SPEAK FROM KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES WHERE VOTERS TURNED OUT BIG TIME, AND IT’S STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
BUT THE NIGHT IS YOUNG.
AS THE FATE OF WHO WILL RESIDE IN THIS OLD YET COVETED HOUSE IS ON THE LINE, >> TONIGHT WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE RESULTS IN SEVERAL KEY STATES WHERE MILLIONS HAVE CAST
THEIR BALLOTS, MANY HEADING TO THE POLLS BEFORE TODAY.
>> WE HAVE LIVE TEAM COVERAGE ON KEY RACES NATIONALLY AND HERE IN LOUISIANA.
>> WE ALSO HAVE ANALYSTS STANDING BY READY TO GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE ON AN ELECTION NIGHT THAT FEELS LIKE 2020 ALL IN ONE DAY, INSANE.
GOOD EVENING.
I’M GINA SWANSON.
>> AND I’M SULA KIM.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE ARE GOING TO START OFF WITH THE LOCAL RACES.
TRAVERS MACKEL IS STANDING OFF TO KICK OFF OUR TEAM COVERAGE.
>> THE NUMBERS ARE STILL COMING IN.
SHE IS RUNNING FIRST OVER 30%.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
THEY ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
THE FORMER ACTING DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND JUDGE FEELS CONFIDENT THAT SHE WILL MAKE IT TO A RUNOFF.
A LONG WAY TO GO, A LOT OF NUMBERS COMING IN.
AS FOR RIGHT NOW, SHE IS RUNNING FIRST IN THIS RACE TO REPLACE THE TOP PROSECUTOR IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE FROM THE CAMP TONIGHT AND AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING WHEN ALL OF THE VOTES ARE FINALLY COUNTED.
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL RACES.
>> COUNCILMAN JASON WILLIAMS JUST WRAPPED UP HIS SPEECH.
WE ARE HOPING TO SPEAK WITH HIM SHORTLY.
HE IS NOT TO FAR FROM WHERE WERE STANDING.
JASON WILLIAMS JUST THANKED ALL OF HIS SUPPORTERS.
HE SAID MORE VOTERS HAVE VOTED THAN EVER BEFORE AND THAT WE MAY BE WAITING A LONG TIME FOR SOME RESULTS.
HE SAYS THE DAS OFFICE NEEDS CHANGE.
HIS BIGGEST PUSH IS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND HE IS SET TO SPEAK WITH US.
WE HEARD HIM GIVE A SPEECH NOT TOO LONG AGO.
WE WILL SPEAK WITH HIM ONE-ON-ONE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
AGAIN, COUNCILMAN JASON WILLIAMS SAYING THAT IT IS TOO EARLY TO CALL THE RACE.
I THINK HE’S GOING TO BE COMING UP WITH US RIGHT NOW.
IF WE ARE ABLE TO PAUSE AND STAY ON FOR THE NEXT 60 SECONDS.
COUNCILMAN JASON WILLIAMS, HE IS COMING TO SPEAK WITH US RIGHT NOW.
THAT MAY GIVE YOU ANOTHER LOOK AGAIN, WE ARE AT THE NEW ORLEANS BOXING CLUB.
YOU CAN SEE THE BANNERS THAT HE HAS.
WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW SO IT IS -- HE IS SET TO WALK OVER HERE WITHIN THE NEXT MINUTE OR SO.
ANOTHER LIVE LOOK AT THE ROOM, HE IS HOPEFULLY COMING TO US SHORTLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SECONDS.
WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS RACE ALL NIGHT AND IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE THIS WATCH PARTY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
THEY ARE WEARING MASKS AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED.
I AM TOLD THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO HOP UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SECONDS.
WE WILL SEE IF HE IS ABLE TO MAKE IT.
LET ME SEE IF HE IS COMING RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THIS RACE AND COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS IS JOINING US LIVE.
WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW ON DOUBLE D -- WDSU.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU ARE PUSHING FOR THE DAS OFFICE?
>> ONE OF THE LARGEST THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS BRING TRANSPARENCY TO THE OFFICE.
THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON.
AS YOU KNOW AND AS EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE CITY AFTER COVID.
MAKING SURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR SPENT IS SPENT WISELY AND IS MAKING US SAFER.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT.
>> TALKING ABOUT THE CHARGES YOU ARE CURRENTLY FACING, YOU PLED NOT GUILTY.
HOW CAN YOU EFFECTIVELY RUN THE DAS OFFICE?
>> IF A POLICE OFFICER WANTS TO CARRY PEPPER SPRAY OR WANTS TO CARRY A TASER, THEY HAVE TO BE TASED THEMSELVES OR PEPPER SPRAY THEMSELVES BEFORE THEY CAN USE THAT POWERFUL PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT.
THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW.
I AM FIRSTHAND SEEING WHAT A VINDICTIVE OR MALICIOUS OR ABUSIVE PROSECUTION LOOKS LIKE AND THAT IS MY PEPPER SPRAY.
IT’S GOING TO MAKE ME A MORE EFFECTIVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AS I NAVIGATE.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES TO THIS.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO BE IN THE RUNOFF?
>> I AM IN THE RING AND I’M GOING TO KEEP THROWING PUNCHES UNTIL I’M OVER.
WE’RE JUST WAITING ON THE JUDGES TO CALL IT.
>> WAITING ON SOMEBODY TO CALL IT.
THAT IS ALSO THE CASE WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING CLOSELY AT FLORIDA.
IT IS STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
THE TOTALS ARE STILL COMING IN.
THEY ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
ANOTHER STATE TOO CLOSE TO CALL IS GEORGIA.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
BEFORE PERCENT OR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
-- 54% FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT FOR PEOPLE WATCHING THIS ELECTION.
>> LET’S CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE.
WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES AS WELL.
THEY HAVE PROJECTED STEVE SCALISE HAS BEEN REELECTED.
>> TO NO SURPRISE, STEVE SCALISE LOCKDOWN A SEVENTH TERM IN LOUISIANA’S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
HE HAS HELD THE SEAT SINCE 2008.
REPUBLICANS HAVE HELD THAT SEAT TO SIT -- SINCE 1977.
I SPOKE TO HIM BEFORE WE WENT ON AIR.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IN THE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS HAVE GAINED THE ADVANTAGE.
CONGRESSMAN WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT REPUBLICANS COULD RETAIN CONTROL IN THE SENATE.
I ASKED HIM ABOUT HOW DO WE GET PAST WHAT HAD BEEN A DIVISIVE CAMPAIGN OF THE NATIONAL LEVEL?
HE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE TIME HE HAD BEEN SPENDING WITH THE PRESIDENT’S CAMPAIGN IN SOME OF THESE KEY STATES.
FIGURING OUT WHAT THE RESULTS ARE.
THE SPIRIT THAT WE SENSE OF THIS DIVISIVENESS REALLY ISN’T PRESENT WHEN THESE PEOPLE GO HOME.
HE IS CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN MOVE ON TO ISSUES LIKE THE CORONAVIRUS.
HE TOLD SUPPORTERS THAT HE IS FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THERE ARE AS MANY OF FOR -- AS MANY AS FOUR VERSIONS OF A VACCINE.
HE SAYS HIS NEXT PRIORITY WILL BE TO HELP LOUISIANA HOLD ONTO ITS DRILLING REVENUE IN ORDER TO SPEND MORE ON COASTAL RESTORATION.
HE GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO HIS FRIEND WHO WON THE SECOND DISTRICT.
STEVE SCALISE IS EXPECTED TO GET OVER 70% OF THE VOTE.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW FROM THAT CITY.
>> NO SURPRISES IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ALSO NO SURPRISES IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
CEDRIC RICHMOND IS GOING BACK TO CONGRESS.
>> GAMING.
FOR THE SIXTH TIME, CONGRESSMAN SEGUIN -- CEDRIC RICHMOND IS GOING TO GO BACK TO WASHINGTON.
HE SAYS OVERALL HE IS PRETTY SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THINGS TURNED OUT.
WITH LOOK AT THE PROJECTED NUMBERS.
HE IS THE PROJECTED WINNER OVER FIVE OTHER CANDIDATES.
HE GOT OVER 50% OF THE VOTE.
HE SAYS HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON SOLVING ISSUES SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC THAT LOUISIANA HAS BEEN HARD-HIT WITH PLUS COASTAL RESTORATION.
CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES AND EDUCATION AS WELL.
HE IS ALSO WATCHING THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE NIGHT, THE ONE EVERYBODY IS WATCHING.
THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT.
HE IS THE COCHAIR OF THE JOE BIDEN CAMPAIGN AND HE KNOWS THERE IS A LONG NIGHT AHEAD TO COUNT THE VOTES.
>> WE STILL HAVE A BUNCH OF PATHS.
WE LOOK GOOD IN ARIZONA.
WE LOOK GOOD IN MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, AND PENNSYLVANIA.
THAT IS A WINNING FORMULA.
I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS FOR SENDING ME BACK UP.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO IN LOUISIANA.
>> HE ALSO SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT LOUISIANA WOULD SHOW DOMINANT WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING PRESIDENT TRUMP AS THEIR CHOICE FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR ANOTHER TERM.
HE WAS HOPING TO SEE MORE BLUE AND HE HOPES TO MAKE THAT MORE OF AN INFLUENCE IN THE STATE IN THE FUTURE.
HE ALSO SAID EARLIER THAT IF JOE BIDEN WINS THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THIS WOULD NOT CHANGE THE POSITION THAT HE CURRENTLY HOLDS IN CONGRESS.
HE SAYS BEING IN THE HOUSE IS WHAT IS BEST FIT FOR HIM AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE LOUISIANA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT LIFE PICTURES OF THE WHITE HOUSE AS WE STAND BY AND WAIT FOR THE PERSON WHO WILL SERVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 270.
OUR ANALYSTS ARE HERE TO JOIN US.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS BECAUSE ALL NIGHT, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING AND WE HAVE HEARD OTHER ANALYSTS TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT GALVANIZE PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.
TALK ABOUT HOW THE ECONOMY IN THE PANDEMIC MOTIVATED PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.
ONE CORRESPONDENT SAID THAT PEOPLE CAME FOR ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEM NOT VENTAS THEM -- OFFEND THEM.
>> YOUR STANCE ON THE ISSUES MAY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY YOUR PARTISANSHIP.
REPUBLICANS PUT THE ECONOMY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
THE PANDEMIC WAS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE.
TYPICALLY, THE ECONOMY IS THE TOP ISSUE.
THIS TIME AT LEAST FOR DEMOCRATS, THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THEY BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT HAS MISHANDLED THE WHOLE PANDEMIC.
THEY WERE HOPING FOR A CHANGE IN ADDRESSING THE VIRUS.
>> DR., WE WANT TO GO TO YOU NEXT.
DR. -- PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE A GOOD JOB WITH VOTER OUTREACH.
DID THE LAST-MINUTE PUSH FOR EITHER OF THE CAMPAIGNS, WAS THAT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN ANYWAY WAY AND ALSO TALK ABOUT THE GET OUT THE VOTE WHEN IT COMES TO EARLY NUMBERS?
>> VOTING TOOK PLACE FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
CERTAINLY, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS ELECTION DAY, OVER 100 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED PRIOR TO TODAY.
WHAT WE SAW OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO MOBILIZE AND MAKE VOTERS MORE ENTHUSIASTIC.
IT IS ABOUT MOTIVATION BUILDING.
HE DIDN’T HAVE A LARGE POOL OF VOTERS WHO HAPPEN TO BE UNDECIDED.
IN ORDER FOR THAT TO CHANGE THE OUT THEM, THAT MEANT JOE BIDEN OR DONALD TRUMP WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE OPPONENTS SUPPORTERS.
THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE CANDIDATES WERE LOCKED IN IN TERMS OF SUPPORT FROM THE VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS.
WHAT WE SEE HERE RIGHT NOW IS THE FACT THAT VOTERS ARE MAKING A STATEMENT.
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY AS WELL AS COVID AND FINDING A SOLUTION AND A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF COVID.
THAT IS WHAT YOU SAW IN THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION.
ALSO, FACING A DEFICIT.
HIS JOB APPROVAL RATING NEVER WENT ABOVE 47%.
HE NEVER CRACKED 50% OVER LEVEL.
THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR ANY INCUMBENT ESPECIALLY SOMEONE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
STANDBY, WE MAY BE COMING BACK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER.
>> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
WE MAY HAVE OR ELECTION RETURNS ONLY COME BACK.
-- MORE ELECTION RETURNS WHE