Representative William “Cash in the Freezer” Jefferson Defeated for Re-Election by Little Known Republican

Anh ‘Joseph’ Cao, a Vietnamese-American, speaks to a reporter as he campaigns in eastern New Orleans. Cao, a Republican, became the first Vietnamese-American in Congress in a predominantly black and heavily Democratic district, beating nine term Representative William Jefferson

Democrat Representative William Jefferson has been defeated tonight by a little known Republican for re-election to the House.

Voters in Louisiana ousted indicted Democratic Rep. William Jefferson on Saturday, instead electing a Republican attorney who will be the first Vietnamese-American in Congress.

Unofficial results showed Anh “Joseph” Cao denying Jefferson a 10th term. Republicans made an aggressive push to take the seat from the 61-year-old incumbent, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, laundering money and misusing his congressional office.

Cao, 41, won a predominantly black and heavily Democratic district that covers most of New Orleans.

A barrage of election-day automated telephone calls on Cao’s behalf flooded the district, including a pitch from the national Republican Party.

The national GOP ran ads citing Jefferson’s indictment for corruption and apparently they paid off.

Remember the flap?