![Sign-up Begins For 5th District Congressional Race](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/11/Voting.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Sign-up Begins For 5th District Congressional Race
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Three state lawmakers have made their candidacies official for the special election to fill the 5th District congressional seat representing northeast and central Louisiana.
Republican state Sen. Neil Riser showed up at the Secretary of State's Office before qualifying even opened Monday. Hours later, Democratic state Reps. Marcus Hunter and Robert Johnson also signed up for the race.
More candidates were expected to jump in before qualifying ends Wednesday evening. The election is Oct. 19.
Congressman Rodney Alexander is resigning from the seat next month for a cabinet post in Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration. The 5th District covers all or part of 24 parishes across northeast Louisiana, through much of central Louisianaand including all the areas that run along the Mississippi state line.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Political Newcomer Picks Up Another Endorsement](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/02/Voting-Booth-Getty-By-Tim-Boyle-Newsmakers.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bennetti Says 5th District Race Filled With Intrigue](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2013/05/Walt-Bennetti-Facebook-photo-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Drivers Pay More for Auto Insurance Than 48 Other States](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2020/09/traffic-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Baton Rouge, Louisiana Ranks as One of the Least Safe Cities in America](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2022/04/attachment-gettyimages-1219410516.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Man Robbed at Gunpoint in His Own Home](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/01/attachment-Untitled-design-43.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![First-Ever Buc-ee’s Store in Texas Goes Up in Flames](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Screen-Shot-2024-07-01-at-4.35.26-PM.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana, This 5-Gallon Bucket Air Conditioner Could Help You Beat the Heat](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2019/07/Homemade-Bucket-Air-Conditioner.png?w=980&q=75)
![Major Crash and Scattered Debris Close I-10 West in Louisiana](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/06/attachment-Screen-Shot-2024-06-30-at-10.26.47-AM.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Mall of Louisiana Announces Strict Policy for Minors](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/06/attachment-Screen-Shot-2024-06-25-at-12.00.48-PM.jpg?w=980&q=75)