By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Americans nationwide will go to the polls Tuesday for a wide range of mid-term and special elections in an assortment of nationally and locally important races.

In the River Parishes, voters will decide on a new lieutenant governor, U.S. senator and U.S. representative for the state’s Third Congressional District.

The lieutenant governor’s race pits longtime Republican Secretary of State Jay Dardenne against Democrat and political newcomer Caroline Fayard.

Dardenne and Fayard were the top two vote getters in the eight-candidate primary election held Oct. 2. The winner will finish out the unexpired term of former Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, who was elected Mayor of New Orleans. The term ends in January 2012.

In the race for U.S. representative for District 3, Republican Jeff Landry is up against Democrat Ravi Sangisetty. In primary elections, Sangisetty ran unopposed, while Landry beat fellow Republican Hunt Downer.

The most crowded race on the ballot Tuesday is the battle for U.S. senator, where 12 candidates will vie for the position.

The frontrunners in the race are incumbent Republican David Vitter and Democrat Charlie Melancon, who vacated his seat in the Third Congressional district to seek the Senate seat.

Other candidates are Libertarian Randall Todd Hayes, Reform Party candidate Willaim R. McShan, Michael Karlton Brown, R. A. “Skip” Galan, Milton Gordon, Thomas G. “Tommy” LaFargue, William Robert “Bob” Lang Jr., Sam Houston Melton Jr., Michael Lane “Mike” Spears and Ernest D. Wooton.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.