Baton Rouge, La. (AP) Seven candidates have registered to run in the special election for Louisiana state treasurer before the sign-up period for the Oct. 14 ballot closed.

Republican John Kennedy left the job after his election to the U.S. Senate.

Qualifying for the race ended Friday.

The top three contenders, all Republicans, are: Angele Davis, a Baton Rouge business consultant who was a state budget administrator for Govs. Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal; Sen. Neil Riser, a funeral home owner from Caldwell Parish; former Rep. John Schroder, a businessman and former law enforcement official from St. Tammany Parish.
Also running are Ron Ceasar, an Opelousas independent; lawyer Derrick Edwards, a New Orleans Democrat; Terry Hughes, a Lafayette Republican; and Joseph Little, a Libertarian from Ponchatoula.