Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards narrowly won the re-election, beating Republican candidate Eddie Rispone, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. He faced Rispone’s strong challenge and came out winning 51% of the vote.
In 2011, Edwards was elected to the House of Louisiana. In the second round of the 2015 governor election, he defeated Republican U.S. Senator David Vitter. And now after winning the 2019 election, Edwards becomes the first Democrat to win reelection since 1975.
Edwards will claim victory in a deep red state, beating Trump’s 20 percentage points in 2016, and against a businessman who was closely aligned with the president. It comes as a blow to President Donald Trump as his last-minute attempt didn’t help Rispone to win. Over the past two weeks, Trump has visited the state three times, converting the race into a test of his popularity in the southern state.
On Saturday night, after the results were declared, Edwards said addressing the supporters, “Tonight, the people of Louisiana have chosen to chart their own path. You know, I have never been more hopeful that Louisiana’s best days are ahead because we’ve proven what we can do when we put people over politics. And as for the president, God bless his heart.”
Edwards said his administration will concentrate on increasing job development over the next four years, spending more in healthcare, particularly early childhood education, working to improve health care, raising the minimum wage, and promoting major infrastructure projects.
Rispone, 70, meanwhile, left a gratitude note for President Trump and also thanked his supporters. Last month, after falling short of the majority vote required to clinch victory, Edwards was forced into re-election.
Saturday’s election marked the second Democratic victory after Democrat Andy Beshear defeated Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in Kentucky.