BATON ROUGE -- Candidates' qualifying period for two south Louisiana congressional races resumed on Wednesday.

A dozen candidates have signed up in the qualifying period that began Tuesday and runs through Thursday at 5 p.m.

The special elections, beginning with party primaries on March 8, are to replace Republicans departing from Congress: U.S. Rep. Richard Baker from the 6th District seat and Gov. Bobby Jindal from the 1st District seat.

Three Democrats signed up for the race to replace Baker and represent the Baton Rouge area: state Rep. Don Cazayoux, of New Roads; Joe Delatte, a Zachary construction worker; and state Rep. Michael Jackson, of Baton Rouge.

Three Republicans signed up: Laurinda L. Calongne, president and CEO of a Baton Rouge consulting firm; Woody Jenkins, a former state representative from Baton Rouge; and Paul Sawyer of Baton Rouge, a former Baker aide.

The 6th District includes eight parishes: East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, Point Coupee, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, East Feliciana and West Feliciana.

At least one other candidate is expected to qualify this week for that race: Democrat Andy Kopplin, who worked as the executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority under former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and once served as her chief of staff. Kopplin, who also worked in the administration of Republican Gov. Mike Foster, planned to sign up Thursday.

Three Republicans signed up for the race to take Jindal's old seat: state Rep. Tim Burns, of Mandeville; Slidell Mayor Ben Morris; and state Sen. Steve Scalise, of Jefferson.

Two Democrats are running: University of New Orleans psychology instructor Gilda Reed of Metairie; and M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza, of Kenner, an organic farmer who made an unsuccessful run for the seat in 2004.

One independent also signed up for the general election, to be held in either April or May. Tony Anthony "Tony G" Gentile is a refinery worker from Mandeville who made a long-shot bid for governor last year.

The 1st District covers both sides of Lake Pontchartrain and leans Republican. It includes the north shore parishes of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington, and parts of south shore parishes Jefferson, Orleans and St. Charles.

For the first time in more than 30 years, Louisiana's federal elections will be run under a party primary-runoff system. After the March 8 primaries, party runoffs will be held April 5 -- if needed -- and the general election May 3. If runoffs are not needed, the general election will be pushed up to April 5, Dardenne spokesman Jacques Berry said.

Jindal resigned his congressional seat this month before being inaugurated governor. Baker is leaving Congress for a job in the hedge fund industry.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)