2008Final resultsSpecial election
2008 special election for Louisiana's 1st District
U.S. House · Louisiana
Steve Scalise (R) won with 75.1% of the vote, defeating Gilda Reed (D) by 52.6 points.
Steve ScaliseRepublican · winner
75.1%33,867
Gilda ReedDemocrat
22.5%10,142
R.a. GalanIndependent
1.7%786
Anthony GentileIndependent
0.6%280
45,075 votes
Source: Federal Election CommissionUpdated Oct 3, 2026, 3:20 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2008
Races before and after
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Gilda ReedNo Republican
$155.3K
Raised by the campaign
—
$148.5K
Spent by the campaign
—
$3K
Cash on hand
—
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2008.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2008
The candidates
Steve Scalise (R)Gilda Reed (D)
Also on the ballot: R.a. Galan (Independent), 1.7%; Anthony Gentile (Independent), 0.6%