Nov 16, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Louisiana set for a close finish in governor's race

Trump and Eddie Rispone, Nov. 14, Bossier City, Louisiana. Photo: Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Polls closed at 8 pm local time in what looks to be a nail-biting gubernatorial runoff election in Louisiana, which pits a rare Democratic Southern governor, incumbent John Bel Edwards, against a Republican challenger, businessman Eddie Rispone.

The big picture: Saturday's contest is expected to be decided by a razor-thin margin, per FiveThirtyEight. President Trump, in an attempt to tip the balance in favor of Rispone, visited Louisiana three times in just more than a month, "directly linking the impeachment inquiry to a state election that will test his clout in the Deep South," according to the New York Times.

Go deeper: Trump leaps into Louisiana governor's race

Editor's note: This article originally stated polls closed at 9 pm, which is correct for Eastern Time but omitted to state this.

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