Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards Faces Runoff Election Against Republican Eddie Rispone For Louisiana Governor

Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards will face Republican candidate Eddie Rispone in a one-on-one general election Nov. 16, after failing to receive 50 percent of the vote.

Associated Press reported that Edwards received 47% of the votes cast, with 99% of precincts reporting. Rispone, beat out the other Republican candidate, Rep. Ralph Abraham, with 27% of the vote, compared to Abraham’s 24%.

The fact that the majority of voters supported a Republican candidate indicates that the Louisiana election will likely be a close race, with a possible upset.

“Over half of Louisiana voters went to the polls today and cast a ballot for someone other than John Bel Edwards,” noted Republican Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. He added that Rispone “will unite Republicans and all Louisianans who want to build a better future for their state.”

President Donald Trump celebrated the news on Twitter Saturday, and took credit for Edwards losing the majority vote.

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“The Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, has done a poor job,” tweeted Trump. “NOW HE IS IN A RUNOFF WITH A GREAT REPUBLICAN, @EddieRispone. Thank you Louisiana! 66% down to 47% after I explained what a bad job the Governor was doing.”

The Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, has done a poor job. NOW HE IS IN A RUNOFF WITH A GREAT REPUBLICAN, @EddieRispone. Thank you Louisiana! 66% down to 47% after I explained what a bad job the Governor was doing.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2019

Trump held an election-eve campaign rally in Lake Charles Friday night with both Rispone and Abraham. He urged Louisianans to vote for one of the GOP candidates and deprive Edwards of the 50% majority vote required for immediate reelection. After losing to Rispone, Abraham endorsed his candidacy in the runoff.

Rispone thanked Trump for his support on Twitter after qualifying for the runoff.

“Thank you @realDonaldTrump for your continued support and work to Make Louisiana Great Again!” he wrote. “It was wonderful having you in Lake Charles Friday and I look forward to welcoming you back to our great state so we can fire @JohnBelforLA!”

Thank you @realDonaldTrump for your continued support and work to Make Louisiana Great Again! It was wonderful having you in Lake Charles Friday and I look forward to welcoming you back to our great state so we can fire @JohnBelforLA! #LAGov https://t.co/j5kRSW0td9

— Eddie Rispone (@EddieRispone) October 13, 2019 

Edwards remained optimistic about his chances in a speech to supporters Saturday night.

“Over the next 5 weeks, the partisan forces in Washington, D.C., are going to pull out all the stops,” Edwards said. “And there’s nothing they won’t say or do to try to win this election, but it won’t work.”