Will Louisiana’s Democratic Party field a viable candidate in next year’s U.S. Senate election ?

That question emerged Thursday after a second major Democrat passed on joining a crowded field of Republicans who are challenging the reelection bid of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy . It’s not clear which Democrat might step up.

Democrats hoped it would be state Sen. Jay Luneau of Alexandria, who during his 10 years in office has been a forceful advocate for Democratic issues. But Luneau said no.

“I just don’t think federal politics are what I want,” he said Thursday. “It’s so partisan in DC, even worse than here. That’s the thing I like least about serving in the Senate, the partisanship.”

Luneau’s announcement comes nearly two weeks after former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards said he wou

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