2023_Louisiana_gubernatorial_election

2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election

2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election

Add article description


The 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held on October 14, 2023 to elect the governor of Louisiana. Incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office.[1] This race was one of two Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2023 in a state that voted for Donald Trump in 2020.

Quick Facts Turnout, Candidate ...

Under Louisiana's two-round system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters may vote for any candidate regardless of that person's party affiliation. If no candidate had received an absolute majority of the vote during the primary election on October 14, 2023, a runoff election would have been held on November 18, 2023, between the top two candidates in the primary.[2]

State Attorney General Jeff Landry won with over 51% of the vote in the primary. This was the first time a candidate won a Louisiana gubernatorial election without a runoff since fellow Republican Bobby Jindal was re-elected in 2011. Landry easily prevailed over several Republican opponents, including former state chamber of commerce CEO Stephen Waguespack and State Treasurer John Schroder. Former state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson was the leading Democratic candidate.[3] All the Republican candidates collectively won 65.52% of the vote, including a candidate who got 0.34% of the vote as he dropped out of the race but remained on the ballot. All the Democrats collectively won 28.53% of the vote, & all the Independents collectively won 5.95% of the vote. This was the only governorship to flip parties in the 2023 elections.

Background

Louisiana, like much of the Deep South, is a very socially conservative "Bible Belt" state. Democrats were the favored party at all levels of government as recently as the 1990s, however the Republican Party has since rapidly gained ground, first at the federal level and gradually at the state and local level as well. Today, the state is strongly Republican-leaning and, at the time of the election, Republicans held both of the state's U.S. Senate seats, all but one of its U.S. House seats, both of its state legislative chambers, and every statewide executive office except the governorship.

John Bel Edwards, a moderate Democrat, was able to win two terms as governor and overcome the state's partisan lean by diverging from the national party on certain policy matters, such as abortion, while also appealing to Louisiana's contemporary Democratic voting base.[4][5] However, as Edwards was term-limited going into the election, most analysts expected the governorship to flip back to the Republican Party in 2023, primarily due to the lack of Democratic candidates with Edwards' crossover appeal.[6]

Democratic candidates

Declared

Declined

Republican candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

Declined

Independent candidates

Declared

Jungle primary

Campaign

The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed Attorney General Jeff Landry's campaign on November 7, 2022, a year before the election. The party had had a full-body meeting scheduled for October 29, but it was canceled, and instead the endorsement was voted on in an exclusive meeting held over Zoom.[43] Landry and Eddie Rispone, a member of the Republican State Central Committee who supported him, had pushed the party to make an early endorsement, arguing that the Republicans' best chance of flipping the governorship was to unite around one candidate well in advance of the election. This move was heavily criticized by other Republicans who had expressed interest in running for governor. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said the party's endorsement process "looks more like communist China than the Louisiana we know and love," State Treasurer John Schroder claimed it was driven by "money and inside party politics," and Louisiana Senate Majority Leader Sharon Hewitt proclaimed "the citizens of Louisiana do not need backroom deals and political insiders telling them who should be our next governor." Michael DiResto, a member of the Republican State Central Committee, believed "the idea that a small cabal would preempt the democratic process literally under the cover of darkness and in a smoke-filled Zoom goes against the foundational values of our party."[44][45] In response, Louisiana Republican Party chair Louis Gurvich said "others who are crying over this endorsement are just upset because they didn't have the support within our party to win the endorsement for themselves."[46]

Endorsements

Jeff Landry (R)
Federal officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Individuals
Organizations
Political parties
Shawn Wilson (D)
Federal officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Individuals
Political parties
Newspapers and other media
Stephen Waguespack (R)
U.S. representatives
Newspapers and other media

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Hypothetical polling
Jeff Landry vs. Sharon Hewitt
Jeff Landry vs. Hunter Lundy
Jeff Landry vs. John Schroder
Jeff Landry vs. Stephen Waguespack
Jeff Landry vs. Shawn Wilson
John Kennedy vs. Jeff Landry
John Kennedy vs. Shawn Wilson
Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican

Results

Turnout map by parish
  25–30%
  30–35%
  35–40%
  40–45%
  45–50%
  50–60%
More information Party, Candidate ...

Aftermath

In his victory speech, Governor-elect Landry stated that the "election says that our state is united", adding, "it's a wake up call and it's a message that everyone should hear loud and clear, that we the people in this state are going to expect more out of our government from here on out".[69]

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. Oscar Dantzler & Patrick Henry Barthel with 1%; Benjamin Barnes, Daniel Cole, Xavier Ellis,Keitron Gagnon, Xan John & Frank Scurlock with 0%
  3. No other candidate received more than 5%
  4. "Someone else" with 7%
  5. "Someone else" with 1%
  6. No other candidate received more than 3%
  7. Billy Nungesser (R) with 23%
  8. John Kennedy (R) with 42%
  9. John Kennedy (R) with 22%; Billy Nungesser (R) with 7%; Bill Cassidy (R) with 6%; Garret Graves (R) with 5%
  10. John Kennedy (R) with 22%; Sharon Weston Broome (D) with 14%; Bill Cassidy (R) with 10%; Billy Nungesser (R) with 7%; Gary Smith Jr. (D) with 4%
Partisan clients
  1. Poll sponsored by Gray Television
  2. Poll commissioned by LA Integrity PAC
  3. Poll commissioned by WWL-TV, WBRZ-TV, KTBS-TV, KATC-TV, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, Urban League of Louisiana and Public Affairs Research Council
  4. Poll sponsored by the conservative group Citizens for a New Louisiana
  5. Poll sponsored by Reboot Louisiana, a super PAC supporting Waguespack
  6. Poll sponsored by Club for Growth, which has endorsed Landry
  7. Poll sponsored by Vantage Data House
  8. Poll conducted for Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser
  9. Poll conducted for Attorney General candidate John Belton
  10. Poll conducted for Billy Nungesser
  11. Poll conducted for John Kennedy

References

  1. "Louisiana Constitution of 1974" (PDF). Government of Louisiana. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  2. Wilson, Sabrina (March 13, 2023). "How crowded will field get for Louisiana governor's race?". WVUE. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  3. Montellaro, Zach (October 14, 2023). "Landry wins Louisiana governor's race, flipping state red". Politico. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  4. "Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards wins reelection in Louisiana". POLITICO. November 16, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  5. "Democrat Edwards wins reelection in conservative Louisiana". AP NEWS. April 20, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. "2023 Odd Year Governor Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  7. Noakes, Alena (February 15, 2023). "Cenla resident running for Louisiana governor". KALB.
  8. Cunningham, Joe (February 13, 2023). "After Controversial Viral Ad, Louisiana Democratic Chair Says She Isn't Running for Governor". KPEL965. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  9. Bridges, Tyler (April 1, 2023). "Katie Bernhardt, no longer facing challenge to her job, says Democrats face brighter days". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  10. Jacobs, David (May 18, 2023). "Roundup: Broome endorsement / Titanic wreckage / TreadBR rebrand". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. Bridges, Tyler (January 24, 2023). "Jeff Landry leads in early governor's race poll". The Advocate. Retrieved February 27, 2023. Chambers said he has ruled out running if Shawn Wilson, the retiring state transportation secretary, enters the race
  12. Bridges, Tyler (March 7, 2023). "Troy Carter endorses Shawn Wilson's campaign for governor. Here's why it matters". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  13. Wright, Robert J. "Who are the favorites to be Louisiana's next governor?". 710 Keel. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. "Cedric Richmond is done with electoral politics, but still in the game". 'I have no intention of ever running for public office again,' [Richmond] told me
  15. Bridges, Tyler (May 31, 2023). "Orleans Parish DA Jason Williams is considering a gubernatorial bid". The Advocate. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  16. "Xan John announces candidacy for governor". WAFB News. January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  17. "A Northshore state representative has launched his campaign for governor". WDSU. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  18. "GOP state Rep. Richard Nelson withdraws from Louisiana governor's race". AP News. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  19. "Sen. Bill Cassidy has decided on whether or not he will run for governor". WDSU. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  20. WBRZ Staff (March 7, 2023). "Congressman Garret Graves says he won't run for La. governor". WBRZ. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  21. Hilburn, Greg (January 4, 2023). "Republican Senator John Kennedy out of Louisiana governor's race". The Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  22. Alford, Jeremy. "Thinking about 2023? You can bet some of these Louisiana politicians are". houmatoday. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  23. Paterson, Blake (October 18, 2021). "State Sen. Rick Ward says he's considering a run for governor of Louisiana". The Advocate. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  24. "End of the Road: Rick Ward ends 11-year Louisiana Senate career". Ward hinted earlier this year about a run for governor. He said those plans are off the table, at least for now.
  25. "Jeffery Istre joins race for governor". KPLC. February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  26. Maricle, Doris (September 8, 2022). "Lundy announces run for governor". The American Press. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  27. Thorington, Brooke (December 14, 2022). "Congressman Higgins endorses Landry for governor". Louisiana Radio Network. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  28. Hutchinson, Piper (September 20, 2023). "Richard Nelson exits governor's race, endorses Jeff Landry". WWNO. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  29. "Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 4/25". Daily Kos. April 25, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  30. Barnhill, Joshua (October 13, 2023). "GOA Endorses Jeff Landry for Louisiana Governor". Gun Owners of America. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  31. NRA-PVF. "NRA's Political Victory Fund Endorses Attorney General Jeff Landry with an "A+" Rating". NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  32. Parker, Zach (March 15, 2023). "Edwards endorses Wilson as candidate for governor". The Ouachita Citizen. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  33. Colombus, Danae (March 30, 2023). "Viewpoint: Gov. Edwards Introduces Candidate Shawn Wilson To New Orleans Heavy Hitters". Mid City Messenger. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  34. "Commentary: We proudly endorse Shawn Wilson for governor". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. September 22, 2023. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  35. "2024 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  36. "Election Ratings". Elections Daily. July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2023_Louisiana_gubernatorial_election, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.