by Matthew Hay Brown

With the victory Saturday of former prosecutor and state legislator Don Cazayoux to the Louisiana seat last held by Republican Richard Baker, House Democrats have gained another seat ahead of the November election.

In March, Democrat Bill Foster won the special election in Illinois to succeed Republican former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. The Democratic House majority now stands at 235, up two since the elections of 2006.

"Democrats are winning in solidly Republican districts because the country agrees it's time for a change from the status quo in Washington," House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel said today. "Louisiana has sent a clear message about that need for change."

In a memo circulated late Saturday, the National Republican Congressional Committee said there was a lesson to be learned from the result.

"When Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi were introduced into this campaign, Don Cazayoux was leading by a large margin in the polls," the NRCC said. "Since then, Republicans saturated the Baton Rouge airwaves in an effort to nationalize this contest and make the election about the real life consequences of a Barack Obama presidency and a continued Pelosi-run Democratic Congress. In that time, Republicans made substantial ground.

"This election speaks to the potential toxicity of an Obama candidacy and the possible drag he could have down-ballot this fall. ...

"By nature, special elections tend to be competitive and their results are not always a harbinger for the November elections, but what we do know is that a Democrat was clearly favored to easily win this election before Republicans invoked the names of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi," the NRCC concluded. "This should come as a warning shot to Democrats."

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Republicans ought to be taking a different lesson from the defeat.

"For the second time this cycle, Republicans were reminded that 'all politics is local,' " the Maryland Democrat said. "House Republicans tried to nationalize this election, illegally coordinated with Freedom's Watch, used false and deceptive special interest smears, and funneled nearly a million dollars into a district that Republicans held for more than three decades. Don won by focusing on the concerns of LA-06 voters - good paying jobs, affordable health care, and better education."

The Sixth District special election was one of two held Saturday in Louisiana. Republican systems analyst and state legislator Steve Scalise won the First District seat last held by Republican Bobby Jindal, who resigned in January to become governor of Louisiana.