LA-GOV: GOP squabbles as Louisiana governor nears reelection
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a conservative Democrat dismissed by many Republicans as an “accidental governor” when he was elected in a major upset in 2015, may be on the brink of winning a second term next week.
Edwards is running a classic red-state Democratic campaign, campaigning on an anti-abortion, pro-gun record — while Republicans want to nationalize the race in a state President Donald Trump won by 20 points in 2016. But with Republicans Ralph Abraham and Eddie Rispone sniping at one another, Edwards could win reelection before the GOP even picks its candidate.
That’s because, under Louisiana’s unique open-primary system, Abraham and Rispone are jockeying for second place in a potential November run-off against Edwards. But Edwards can win outright by getting a majority on Oct. 12, which would short-circuit the GOP’s chase for a governorship it lost in 2015 behind scandal-tarred former Sen. David Vitter’s candidacy.
Edwards is working hard to distance himself from national Democrats, touting things like signing into law a bill that restricts abortion rights, or his pro-gun stance that’s arguably more in step with Republicans. And Republicans who want to nationalize the race are crossing their fingers that the incumbent will fall short of 50 percent and give either Abraham or Rispone a one-on-one shot next month against Edwards.
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/01/edwards-louisiana-governor-republicans-014084
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