The LFT, one of Louisiana's two major teacher unions, gave Campbell the nod because of his pro-education voting record while a state senator and for his commitment to increasing teachers' pay, said Steve Monaghan, the president of the 18,000-member group.

Campbell, a Democrat, is a member of the state Public Service Commission.

Earlier this year, the state's other big teacher union, the 20,000-member Louisiana Association of Educators, endorsed both Campbell and state Sen. Walter Boasso, a Democrat from St. Bernard Parish.

The other major candidates in the race are Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal and businessman John Georges, who is running as an independent.

(From The Associated Press)