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Downer secured the endorsement of thirty-three members of the state legislature from both parties and both chambers, including Republican Representatives [[Carl Crane]] of Baton Rouge and [[Ernie Alexander]] of Lafayette as well as the Democrat  [[Francis C. Thompson]] of Delhi in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. Yet, Downer received only 84,718 votes (6 percent) in the primary, compared to 444,389 ballots (33 percent) for Jindal. In turn, Jindal was defeated by the leading Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]] of Lafayette in the [[general election]]. Soon after her election, Blanco appointed Downer as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, and later as her legislative director in the Office of the Governor.

Downer secured the endorsement of thirty-three members of the state legislature from both parties and both chambers, including Republican Representatives [[Carl Crane]] of Baton Rouge and [[Ernie Alexander]] of Lafayette as well as the Democrat  [[Francis C. Thompson]] of Delhi in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. Yet, Downer received only 84,718 votes (6 percent) in the primary, compared to 444,389 ballots (33 percent) for Jindal. In turn, Jindal was defeated by the leading Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]] of Lafayette in the [[general election]]. Soon after her election, Blanco appointed Downer as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, and later as her legislative director in the Office of the Governor.

==2010 U.S. congressional race==

==2010 U.S. congressional campaign==

In 2010, Downer was a candidate for the District 3 seat in the U.S. House vacated by Democrat [[Charlie Melancon]] in a bid to unseat [[U. S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] for the [[United States Senate]]. He lost a party runoff on October 2, 2010, to [[conservative]] newcomer [[Jeff Landry]], who had the backing  of the [[Tea Party]] movement. In that campaign, Landy accused Downer of being a "liberal Democrat" though Downer had switch parties nine years earlier.<ref>Stephanie Grace, "Partisan divide comes late to Louisiana," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' October 19, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2010/08/a-bitter-battle-in-the-bayou/|title=A Bitter Battle in the Bayou:Two Republicans go negative in final days of Louisiana House primary|author=Eugene Kiely|publisher=factcheck.com|date=August 26, 2010|accessdate=May 6, 20221.</ref>

In 2010, Downer was a candidate for the District 3 seat in the U.S. House vacated by Democrat [[Charlie Melancon]] in a bid to unseat [[U. S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] for the [[United States Senate]]. He lost a party runoff on October 2, 2010, to [[conservative]] newcomer [[Jeff Landry]], who had the backing  of the [[Tea Party]] movement. In that campaign, Landy accused Downer of being a "liberal Democrat" though Downer had switch parties nine years earlier.<ref>Stephanie Grace, "Partisan divide comes late to Louisiana," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' October 19, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2010/08/a-bitter-battle-in-the-bayou/|title=A Bitter Battle in the Bayou:Two Republicans go negative in final days of Louisiana House primary|author=Eugene Kiely|publisher=factcheck.com|date=August 26, 2010|accessdate=May 6, 20221.</ref>