Edwin Edwards, the 87-year-old former four-term Louisiana governor who spent more than eight years in federal prison, has earned a runoff spot against Republican Garret Graves in the state's 6th Congressional District.
Graves and Edwards will face each other on the Dec. 6 ballot.
Edwards was the only prominent Democrat among 11 candidates in the race. He had been widely expected to garner a runoff spot against one of the better- known Republicans. But he was considered a longshot for a final runoff victory in a district that went heavily for Republican presidential opponents of President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
The sprawling Baton Rouge-area district is currently represented by Republican Bill Cassidy, who bowed out to run for the Senate.