Republican

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican backed by former President Donald Trump, has won a crowded race for Louisiana governor.

This victory is a major victory for the Republican Party, which recaptured the governor's office for the first time in eight years. Landry will replace incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards, who was unable to run for re-election due to term limits. Edwards is the Deep South's only Democratic governor.

“Today’s election says that our state is united,” Landry said during his victory speech Saturday night. “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.”

By garnering more than half of the votes, Landry avoided an expected runoff under the state’s “jungle primary” system. The last time there wasn’t a gubernatorial runoff in Louisiana was in 2011 and 2007, when Bobby Jindal, a Republican, won the state’s top position.

OTHER NEWS

FILE - Gov. John Bel Edwards delivers his address to members of the House and Senate in a joint session to kick off the 2023 regular legislative session, April 10, 2023 at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. The race to replace Edwards tops the list of contests Louisiana voters will decide Saturday in one of only three gubernatorial elections scheduled for this year. (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

AP Election Brief | What to expect in Louisiana’s statewide primaries

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of La., speaks to reporters as he arrives for a meeting of House Republicans to vote on candidates for Speaker of the House on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 in Washington. Stalemated over a new House speaker, the Republican majority is scheduled to convene behind closed doors to try to vote on a nominee. But lawmakers say Wednesday's private ballots to replace ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy could take a while. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Republican Steve Scalise is considered a fighter, but he may need a fight to become Speaker of the House.

Friday, May 26, 2023, Old Avondale Shipyard in Bridge City, Louisiana. A South Louisiana port's plan to buy a shipyard to build warships has been put on hold. In January, the port announced plans to acquire the former Avondale Shipyard site from port terminal operator T. Parker Host. The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported Wednesday. 11, that the purchase has been put off after port officials faced questions last month from the state Bond Commission. (David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)

Planned purchase of old Louisiana shipyard put on hold amid questions from state financing panel

The governor-elect, who celebrated with supporters during a watch party in Broussard, Louisiana, described the election as “historic.”

Landry, 52, has raised the profile of attorney general since taking office in 2016. He has used his office to champion conservative policy positions. More recently, Landry has been in the spotlight over his involvement and staunch support of Louisiana laws that have drawn much debate, including banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths, the state’s near-total abortion ban that doesn’t have exceptions for cases of rape and incest, and a law restricting youths’ access to “sexually explicit material” in libraries, which opponents fear will target LGBTQ+ books.

Landry has repeatedly clashed with Edwards over matters in the state, including LGBTQ rights, state finances and the death penalty. However the Republican has also repeatedly put Louisiana in national fights, including over President Joe Biden’s policies that limit oil and gas production and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Landry spent two years on Capitol Hill, beginning in 2011, where he represented Louisiana’s 3rd U.S. Congressional District. Prior to his political career, Landry served 11 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard, was a local police officer, sheriff’s deputy and attorney.

During the gubernatorial election season, Landry had long been considered the early frontrunner, winning the endorsement of high profile Republicans — Trump and U.S. Rep Steve Scalise — and a controversial early endorsement from the state GOP. In addition, Landry has enjoyed a sizable fundraising advantage over the rest of the field throughout the race. Landry has made it clear that one of his top priorities as governor will be fighting crime in urban areas. Republicans say they must maintain a tough-on-crime approach, increase "transparency" in the judicial system, and continue to support the death penalty. Louisiana has the second-highest murder rate per capita in the United States.

During the campaign, Landry faced political attacks from opponents on social media and in interviews. Opponents have called him a thug and accused him of backroom deals to increase his support. He also came under scrutiny for missing all but one major TV debate.

Among other gubernatorial candidates on the ballot were GOP state Sen. Sharon Hewitt; Hunter Lundy, a Lake Charles-based attorney running as an independent; Republican state Treasurer John Schroder; Stephen Waguespack, the Republican former head of a powerful business group and former senior aide to then-Gov. Jindal; and Shawn Wilson, the former head of Louisiana’s Transportation and Development Department and sole major Democratic candidate.

Wilson, who was the runner-up, said during his concession speech that he had called Landry to congratulate him on his victory. The Democrat said during their phone call, he asked the governor-elect to keep Medicaid expansion, increase teacher pay and “educate our children the way they need to be educated.”

“The citizens of Louisiana spoke, or didn’t speak, and made a decision,” Wilson said. Voting also took place Saturday on five other contests and four ballot measures across the state.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser won re-election Saturday night, but other races won't be decided until November.