Oct 13, 2019

Louisiana race: Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards forced into runoff

John Bel Edwards. Photo: Patrick Dennis-Pool/Getty Images

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) was forced into a runoff Saturday night after winning 47% of the vote in a tight gubernatorial primary race, results show.

Why it matters: Edwards stood out as a rare Democratic governor in "Deep South Trump territory," AP notes. His failure to win 50% of the vote outright over 5 challengers brings into question his chances of re-election. He's facing an intense national Republican campaign, spearheaded by President Trump, per AP.

The big picture: Trump rallied against Edwards in Louisiana on the eve of the election, calling on voters to cast their ballots for one of two major Republican candidates, without naming either of them.

  • Results show Edwards' closest rivals, Republican businessman Eddie Rispone (R) gained 27% of votes and U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham (R) won 24%, KPLC first reported. That means Rispone will face off against Edwards in the Nov. 16 runoff.

What he's saying: Edwards may have won the most votes, but Trump posted 2 victorious tweets after news of the Louisiana election outcome emerged.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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