Though House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-Slidell) has several times indicated he is not planning to run for Governor this year, political speculation continues that he may well reverse course and enter the jungle primary against incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards (D). Late last week the situation clarified as Mr. Scalise again reiterated that he is “not running for Governor.”
Many Louisiana Republican leaders reportedly feel the party needs a stronger candidate than the two announced entries, Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/Monroe) and developer Eddie Rispone. GOP strategists are unhappy, for example, that Rep. Abernathy reported raising less than $400,000 before the end of last year. A key time will be the next financial disclosure deadline on April 15th. Expect the GOP to search to recruit a new candidate should Abernathy and Rispone not improve. Louisiana state candidates must file on or before August 8th. The jungle primary will be held October 12th. If no contender receives an absolute majority that day, a run-off between the top two finishers will be conducted on November 16th. A new LJR Custom Strategies survey conducted for the Education Reform Now Advocacy group (1/14-27; 600 LA likely voters), a supporter of Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), finds the first-term state chief executive way ahead of his two current prospective Republican opponents.
According to the LJR results, Gov. Edwards leads Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/ Monroe) and land developer Eddie Rispone (R), 45-17-4%, if the state’s jungle primary were held in the present time. But, this respondent group consisted of 53% self-identified Democrats, 34% Republican, and 13% unaffiliated. Typically, the Louisiana electorate has a much different complexion. A December poll from Remington Research conducted for Rep. Abraham found that he and Gov. Edwards would tie at 44% apiece if the two advanced into the general election, providing an example of early polling disparity. The latest Louisiana Governor’s campaign news features former US Rep. John Fleming (R) indicating that he is also considering entering the 2019 Governor’s race in order to challenge Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards. Dr. Fleming served four terms in the House, leaving in 2016 to run unsuccessfully for the Senate. He finished fifth in a field of 24 jungle primary candidates, failing to advance into the general election. Then-state Treasurer John Kennedy (R) eventually claimed the seat in the run-off election. Currently, Dr. Fleming is an official in the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Gov. Edwards is seeking re-election. His current challengers are US Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/Monroe) and land developer Eddie Rispone (R). Both Sen. Kennedy and Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) declined to run. The Louisiana campaign finance disclosure deadline is fast approaching, and the key gubernatorial candidates are already releasing their dollar totals. Gov. John Bel Edwards’ (D) campaign team reports that his operation will report $3.8 million raised for the period with a cash-on-hand figure of $8.4 million.
His numbers were countered by Republican developer Eddie Rispone, who reports $5.5 million in the bank, though $5 million of his funds are self-contributed. Originally, it appeared that Attorney General and former US Congressman Jeff Landry (R) was gearing up to run for Governor, but opted to announce for re-election when it appeared that US Sen. John Kennedy (R) would challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards (D). When the Senator decided to remain where he is, rumors began surfacing that Mr. Landry was re-thinking his political plans.
Yesterday, the Attorney General ended the speculation by announcing that he is continuing his campaign for re-election and will by-pass a run for Governor in 2019. The gubernatorial field includes, at this point, only two announced contenders: US Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/Monroe) and real estate developer Eddie Rispone, but others still have plenty of time to enter the race. Former Congressman and US Senate candidate Charles Boustany (R), state Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, and state Sen. Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell) are all potential gubernatorial candidates. The Louisiana candidate filing deadline is not until August 8th for the October 12th statewide jungle primary and November 16th run-off election. Speculation is becoming rampant about the 2019 gubernatorial elections. Two new names have surfaced as potential Louisiana candidates, former US Rep. Charles Boustany (R-Lafayette) and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta (R).
The field begun taking shape once US Sen. John Kennedy (R) announced that he would not challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) next year. Currently in the race are US Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/Monroe) and GOP developer Eddie Rispone. Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) is another potential candidate. Plenty of time for decisions remains, however. The candidate filing deadline is not until August 8th for the October 12th jungle primary, followed by a November 16th run-off if no one obtains majority support. In Kentucky, another Democrat is soon expected to enter the campaign against first-term Gov. Matt Bevin (R). Former state Auditor Adam Edelen has formed an exploratory committee. If he moves forward, Mr. Edelen will join Attorney General Andy Beshear and state House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins (D-Sandy Hook) as official candidates. Now that two Republicans have officially announced their candidacies to oppose Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), Remington Research went into the field to test where the contenders currently stand. The survey (12/11-12; 1,680 LA likely 2019 gubernatorial election voters) finds Gov. Edwards holding a jungle primary lead over both US Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/Alexandria) and developer Eddie Rispone (R). But, advancing to a run-off election should no candidate score majority support suggests the final outcome could be very close.
With all individuals appearing on the ballot for the original vote, which will come next October, Gov. Edwards would lead Rep. Abraham and Mr. Rispone, 43-31-9%. But, the mid-40s may be at least an early ceiling for Mr. Edwards. If he and Rep. Abraham advanced to a run-off, the two would tie at 44% apiece. If Mr. Rispone finished second in the original election, Gov. Edwards would top him in the run-off, but only by a 46-39% margin. A great deal of action has already occurred in preparation for next year’s Louisiana Governor’s campaign, and yesterday more news was made. State Treasurer John Schroder (R), who confirmed he was considering entering the Governor’s race, announced that he would not challenge Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards.
At this point, understanding that the candidate filing deadline won’t occur until next summer, the main contenders are US Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/Monroe) and developer Eddie Rispone (R). Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) remains a possible entry now that Sen. John Kennedy (R) is officially out of the Governor’s race. Politics is in full swing in preparation for the 2019 Louisiana Governor’s race. After Sen. John Kennedy (R) announced earlier in the week that he would not challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) next year, follow-up moves are beginning to be made. Yesterday, US Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Alto/Monroe) announced his statewide candidacy as expected, joining developer Eddie Rispone as Republican candidates.
On the other side of the spectrum, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (R) announced that he will not run for Governor, presumably in order to seek re-election for a second term in his current position. The big unanswered question seems to surround whether Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) will change his mind about seeking re-election now that Sen. Kennedy is out of the Governor’s race and Abraham and Rispone are in. Early signals suggest that he may be again readying himself to enter the race. State Treasurer John Schroder also confirms he is considering becoming a gubernatorial candidate. Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) is making vague statements about his plans for 2019. After announcing that he would yield to US Sen. John Kennedy (R) in the Governor’s race and seek re-election to his current position, he now has plenty of time to again change course. Sen. Kennedy deciding not to enter the Governor’s race is bringing major change to the gubernatorial campaign. Mr. Landry was quoted as discussing the Governor’s race, and indicated that no matter who runs must address Louisiana as being toward the bottom of the list of states in economic growth.
In other gubernatorial news, two-term Rep. Garret Graves (R-Baton Rouge), who was just re-elected to a third term, said he could best serve the state by remaining in Congress and will not challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards (D). |
The Rundown BlogLearn more about the candidates running in key elections across the United States. Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|
|
BIPAC© 2022 BIPAC. All rights reserved
|