Embattled La. Rep William Jefferson Loses Election

Cao becomes the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress. He has no previous political experience, aside from a failed run for state senate in 2007.

William Jefferson's district is heavily Democratic, yet he lost. How could that be? Analysts said that the extremely low voter turnout, for a special election due to Hurricane Gustav, were partly responsible for the loss.

Many felt that if the election had been held at the same time as the general election, high African-American voter turnout would have propelled Jefferson to a 10th term.

Jefferson was accused in 20078 of soliciting millions in bribes from a dozen companies while using his office to broker business deals in Africa. A search of his home by FBI agents resulting in the discover of the aforementioned $90,000 in alleged bribe money in a freezer.