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)
Louisiana’s gubernatorial election is set to take place this Saturday, featuring a unique primary system with all candidates appearing together on the same ballot, regardless of their party affiliation. Fourteen candidates are vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards. If no candidate secures a majority in the primary, the top two vote-getters will proceed to a runoff on November 18.
The Republican candidates include state Senator Sharon Hewitt, state Attorney General Jeff Landry, state Treasurer John Schroder, former CEO of a business trade association Stephen Waguespack, and others. State Representative Richard Nelson, also a Republican, withdrew from the race in September but remains on the ballot due to state election laws. Shawn Wilson, a former state Transportation Secretary, is the sole major Democratic candidate, and Lake Charles-based attorney Hunter Lundy is among the five independent candidates.
Jeff Landry, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and the state GOP, leads in fundraising, with a considerable financial advantage over the other candidates. However, the division among Republican candidates may lead to a runoff in November.
In addition to the gubernatorial race, Saturday’s ballot includes statewide contests for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and treasurer, as well as four statewide ballot measures. All 39 Senate seats and 105 House seats are up for election, but many incumbents are running unopposed.
Notably, the secretary of state election holds significance as it will determine the future of Louisiana’s outdated voting machines, a topic that gained national attention due to allegations of bid-rigging. The candidates include GOP state House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, First Assistant Secretary of State Nancy Landry, public service commissioner Mike Francis, and Democrat attorney Gwen Collins-Greenup, all of whom oppose hand-counting paper ballots.
Election Day in Louisiana falls on Saturday, with polls closing at 8 p.m. local time (CT) or 9 p.m. ET. All registered voters are eligible to participate in the primary.
John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, won the governorship in 2015 and 2019, offering a model for Democrats to succeed in Louisiana by securing victory in Democratic strongholds, narrowing the vote gap in Republican areas, and winning over parishes that Clinton and Biden lost in the presidential elections.
The election results will not be projected, and a winner will only be declared when no scenario exists in which trailing candidates can bridge the gap. The outcome of races may be delayed when candidates approach the 50% mark, potentially leading to runoffs.
Louisiana saw a 46% turnout in the 2019 gubernatorial primary, with early voting accounting for 21% of the total vote.
Vote-counting usually concludes on election night, with preliminary turnout estimates suggesting roughly 1.3 million votes. Louisiana does not have automatic recounts, but candidates can request and pay for a recount of absentee and early votes. The Election Post may declare a winner in races subject to a recount if the margin is too significant for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.
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