BATON ROUGE -- The chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party says the GOP will have a tougher time holding onto a Baton Rouge-area congressional seat than a more secure Republican seat centered in suburban New Orleans.

State GOP Chairman Roger Villere said the state party "feels really confident" that a Republican would win the 1st Congressional District seat which Bobby Jindal held until he became governor.

"The 6th District is going to be more of a challenge, but we feel comfortable we have the momentum," Villere said after his re-election as party chairman Saturday.

U.S. Rep. Richard Baker of Baton Rouge resigned the 6th District seat to take a financial industry lobbying job. Democrats are putting a strong push on in the 6th District, which has been in Republican hands for three decades.

Four Republicans are running: businesswoman Laurinda Calongne, Michael Cloonan, ex-state Rep. Woody Jenkins and former Baker aide Paul Sawyer.

Five Democrats are in the race: state Reps. Don Cazayoux and Michael Jackson, former hurricane recovery chief Andy Kopplin, lawyer Jason DeCuir and construction worker Joe Delatte.

Initial party primaries are March 8. Party runoffs are April 5, if necessary. The general election is May 3.

Republicans are allowing only Republican voters to participate in their party primary. Democrats are allowing "no party" voters to participate in their election process. All voters can participate in the general election.

"It's better to get a true picture of what Republicans want," Villere said. "That's how you get a better candidate."

Democrats are allowing "no party" voters to participate in their election process. All voters can participate in the general election.

Villere said work is under way to recruit a Republican to challenge 3rd Congressional District Rep. Charles Melancon, a Democrat from Napoleonville. Melancon is in his second term after beating stiff Republican opposition in both elections.

Villere won re-election as state party chairman as the newly elected Republican State Central Committee held an organizational meeting at the Old State Capitol.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://www.theadvocate.com

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