Pres. Obama endorses Jersey Village alum's opponent

President Barack Obama has announced that he is throwing his support behind Jersey Village alum Joseph Cao's opponent. 

The president is backing Louisiana Democrat Cedric Richmond in his race against GOP Rep. Cao in the 2nd Congressional District. 

 

Cao, a 1985 Jersey Village H.S. graduate, replaced U.S. Rep. William Jefferson in the position last summer, when Jefferson was convicted on 11 counts of public corruption.

 

Richmond, a state Representative, decisively won the primary in August against state Rep. Juan LaFonta, community activist Gary Johnson and onetime aide to Jefferson, Eugene Green. 

 

“Cedric Richmond will make an outstanding representative for this district and I am proud to support him in this election because he shares our values and supports our agenda,” President Obama said in a Sunday evening statement. “I look forward to working with Cedric in the next Congress because he believes in our shared agenda of increasing access to quality, affordable healthcare and investing in job creation.” 

 

Richmond has also been endorsed by Sen. Mary Landrieu, former Sen. John Breaux, and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

 

With Ron Austin dropping out of the race, independents Anthony Marquize and Jack Radosta are the only challengers to Cao and Richmond.