Baton Rouge, LA (LifeNews.com) -- Louisiana voters on Saturday backed two pro-life advocates for Congress in attorney Anh “Joseph” Cao and physician John Fleming. The two had the support of the Louisiana Right to Life Federation, which said they were both candidates pro-life voters could get behind without hesitation.

Cao, a Republican, ran in the second Congressional district in the New Orleans area and toppled nine-term Democratic incumbent Rep. William Jefferson, a long-time abortion backer in the House.

Fleming, also a Republican, won his race in the fourth Congressional district in a cliffhanger over former District Attorney Paul Carmouche, a Democrat. They were seeking to replace retiring pro-life Rep. Jim McCrery.

With all of the votes counted, Cao received 33,122 votes (50%) to Jefferson’s 31,296 (47%) thanks in part to Jefferson’s ethical problems that will have him stand trial next year on multiple federal bribery and corruption charges.

Jefferson had a 78 percent pro-abortion voting record according to National Right to Life statistics while Cao gave the group a strongly pro-life candidate questionnaire. Cao was also endorsed by Family Research Council Action, another pro-life group.

Fleming’s margin of victory over Carmouche was smaller with a narrow 356-vote win. He received 44,497 votes (48.07%) to Carmouche’s 44,141 (47.69%) with minor party candidates winning a little over four percent.

Fleming gave NRLC a perfect 100 percent pro-life candidate survey response and was endorsed by the group's political action committee.

The margin may have been wider had the contest been a more clear-cut battle on abortion, as with Cao, but Carmouche ran as a pro-life candidate even though he benefited from radio spots recorded by pro-abortion president-elect Barack Obama.

Carmouche did not answer the NRLC candidate survey, which likely hurt his effort to get pro-life voters to back him.

Both elections were held in December because Hurricane Gustav forced state officials to postpone party primaries, which moved back the dates for runoffs and the General Election.

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