The 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held on October 14, 2023 to elect the governor of Louisiana. Incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office.[1] This race was one of two Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2023 in a state that voted for Donald Trump in 2020.
Under Louisiana's two-round system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters may vote for any candidate regardless of that person's party affiliation. If no candidate had received an absolute majority of the vote during the primary election on October 14, 2023, a runoff election would have been held on November 18, 2023, between the top two candidates in the primary.[2]
State Attorney General Jeff Landry won with over 51% of the vote in the primary. This was the first time a candidate won a Louisiana gubernatorial election without a runoff since fellow Republican Bobby Jindal was re-elected in 2011. Landry easily prevailed over several Republican opponents, including former state chamber of commerce CEO Stephen Waguespack and State Treasurer John Schroder. Former state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson was the leading Democratic candidate.[3] All the Republican candidates collectively won 65.52% of the vote, including a candidate who got 0.34% of the vote as he dropped out of the race but remained on the ballot. All the Democrats collectively won 28.53% of the vote, & all the Independents collectively won 5.95% of the vote. This was the only governorship to flip parties in the 2023 elections.
Background
Louisiana, like much of the Deep South, is a socially conservative "Bible Belt" state. Democrats were the favored party at all levels of government as recently as the 1990s; however, the Republican Party has since rapidly gained ground, first at the federal level and gradually at the state and local level as well. Today, the state is strongly Republican-leaning and, at the time of the election, Republicans held both of the state's U.S. Senate seats, all but one of its U.S. Houseseats, majorities in both of its state legislative chambers, and every statewide executive office except the governorship.
John Bel Edwards, a moderate Democrat, was able to win two terms as governor and overcome the state's partisan lean by diverging from the national party on certain policy matters, such as abortion, while also appealing to Louisiana's contemporary Democratic voting base.[4][5] However, as Edwards was term-limited going into the election, most analysts expected the governorship to flip back to the Republican Party in 2023, primarily due to the lack of Democratic candidates with Edwards' crossover appeal.[6]
Stephen Waguespack, former president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and former chief of staff to then-governor Bobby Jindal[25]
Frank Scurlock, retired businessman and Democratic candidate for mayor of New Orleans in 2017[20]
Jungle primary
Campaign
The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed Attorney GeneralJeff Landry's campaign on November 7, 2022, a year before the election. The party had had a full-body meeting scheduled for October 29, but it was canceled, and instead the endorsement was voted on in an exclusive meeting held over Zoom.[43] Landry and Eddie Rispone, a member of the Republican State Central Committee who supported him, had pushed the party to make an early endorsement, arguing that the Republicans' best chance of flipping the governorship was to unite around one candidate well in advance of the election. This move was heavily criticized by other Republicans who had expressed interest in running for governor. Lieutenant GovernorBilly Nungesser said the party's endorsement process "looks more like communist China than the Louisiana we know and love," State TreasurerJohn Schroder claimed it was driven by "money and inside party politics," and Louisiana Senate Majority Leader Sharon Hewitt proclaimed "the citizens of Louisiana do not need backroom deals and political insiders telling them who should be our next governor." Michael DiResto, a member of the Republican State Central Committee, believed "the idea that a small cabal would preempt the democratic process literally under the cover of darkness and in a smoke-filled Zoom goes against the foundational values of our party."[44][45] In response, Louisiana Republican Party chair Louis Gurvich said "others who are crying over this endorsement are just upset because they didn't have the support within our party to win the endorsement for themselves."[46]
In his victory speech, Governor-elect Landry stated that the "election says that our state is united", adding, "it's a wake up call and it's a message that everyone should hear loud and clear, that we the people in this state are going to expect more out of our government from here on out".[70]
^"Former Louisiana DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson announces his bid for governor". Fox 8 Live. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
^Cunningham, Joe (February 13, 2023). "After Controversial Viral Ad, Louisiana Democratic Chair Says She Isn't Running for Governor". KPEL965. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
^ a b cBridges, Tyler (April 1, 2023). "Katie Bernhardt, no longer facing challenge to her job, says Democrats face brighter days". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
^"Who Is Running For Louisiana Governor Next Year? There May Be A Lot Of Options". September 12, 2022.
^ a b cJacobs, David (May 18, 2023). "Roundup: Broome endorsement / Titanic wreckage / TreadBR rebrand". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^Bridges, Tyler (January 24, 2023). "Jeff Landry leads in early governor's race poll". The Advocate. Retrieved February 27, 2023. Chambers said he has ruled out running if Shawn Wilson, the retiring state transportation secretary, enters the race
^ a b cBridges, Tyler (March 7, 2023). "Troy Carter endorses Shawn Wilson's campaign for governor. Here's why it matters". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^"District Attorney Hillar Moore Won't Run for Governor". February 28, 2023.
^Wright, Robert J. "Who are the favorites to be Louisiana's next governor?". 710 Keel. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^"Cedric Richmond is done with electoral politics, but still in the game". 'I have no intention of ever running for public office again,' [Richmond] told me
^Bridges, Tyler (May 31, 2023). "Orleans Parish DA Jason Williams is considering a gubernatorial bid". The Advocate. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
^Bridges, Tyler (August 4, 2023). "New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams won't run for governor". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023.
^ a b c d e"Louisiana Secretary of State". August 8, 2023.
^"State Sen. Sharon Hewitt enters governor's race". January 13, 2023.
^"Xan John announces candidacy for governor". WAFB News. January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
^"Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announces he is running for governor". WDSU News. October 5, 2022.
^"La. State Treasurer John Schroder officially joins race for governor". WAFB. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
^"Stephen Waguespack enters the governor's race, will resign as head of LABI". March 9, 2023.
^"A Northshore state representative has launched his campaign for governor". WDSU. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
^"GOP state Rep. Richard Nelson withdraws from Louisiana governor's race". AP News. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
^"Sen. Bill Cassidy has decided on whether or not he will run for governor". WDSU. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
^"Congressman Graves says he will make a decision soon on governor's race". January 11, 2023.
^WBRZ Staff (March 7, 2023). "Congressman Garret Graves says he won't run for La. governor". WBRZ. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
^ a bBridges, Tyler (June 7, 2023). "Garret Graves endorses Stephen Waguespack in Louisiana governor's race". The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
^Adragna, Anthony (November 14, 2022). "John Kennedy says he's giving "serious consideration" to jumping into the open Louisiana governor's race next year". Politico. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
^Hilburn, Greg (January 4, 2023). "Republican Senator John Kennedy out of Louisiana governor's race". The Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
^Karlin, Sam. "Billy Nungesser to announce he's not running for governor, will seek re-election". The Advocate. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
^"Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 2/28". February 28, 2023.
^Finn, James (April 12, 2023). "Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder makes it official, will run for secretary of state". NOLA.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
^Alford, Jeremy. "Thinking about 2023? You can bet some of these Louisiana politicians are". houmatoday. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
^"x.com". Retrieved August 18, 2024.
^Paterson, Blake (October 18, 2021). "State Sen. Rick Ward says he's considering a run for governor of Louisiana". The Advocate. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
^"End of the Road: Rick Ward ends 11-year Louisiana Senate career". Ward hinted earlier this year about a run for governor. He said those plans are off the table, at least for now.
^"Jeffery Istre joins race for governor". KPLC. February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
^Maricle, Doris (September 8, 2022). "Lundy announces run for governor". The American Press. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
^"Republicans react to state GOP endorsing Jeff Landry for Governor".
^ a b cKarlin, Sam (November 7, 2022). "LA GOP endorses Jeff Landry for governor early, drawing blowback from two rivals". The Advocate. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^ a bHilburn, Greg (November 7, 2022). "Louisiana Republican Party endorses Jeff Landry in 2023 governor's race". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^Hilburn, Greg. "Senator John Kennedy mulls Louisiana governor's race; releases poll showing him as favorite". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
^"Former President Donald Trump endorses Jeff Landry in race for governor". WAFB. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^Hilburn, Greg (July 13, 2023). "Senator Bill Cassidy endorses Republican Jeff Landry in Louisiana governor's race". The Times.
^Thorington, Brooke (December 14, 2022). "Congressman Higgins endorses Landry for governor". Louisiana Radio Network. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^Hilburn, Greg (January 9, 2023). "Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson endorses Jeff Landry for governor: What's next?". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^Finn, James (September 21, 2023). "Steve Scalise endorses Jeff Landry in Louisiana governor's race". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
^Hutchinson, Piper (September 20, 2023). "Richard Nelson exits governor's race, endorses Jeff Landry". WWNO. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
^Bridges, Tyler (December 16, 2022). "With key backers, Jeff Landry is seen as early front-runner in Louisiana governor race". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^ a b c d e f g h"From the NRA to labor unions, see who's endorsing each candidate for Louisiana governor". www.nola.com. October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
^"Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 4/25". Daily Kos. April 25, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^Barnhill, Joshua (October 13, 2023). "GOA Endorses Jeff Landry for Louisiana Governor". Gun Owners of America. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
^NRA-PVF. "NRA's Political Victory Fund Endorses Attorney General Jeff Landry with an "A+" Rating". NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^ a b"Major endorsements line up for Shawn Wilson to become Louisiana's next governor". thedrumnewspaper. June 24, 2023.
^Finn, James (March 7, 2023). "John Bel Edwards endorses Shawn Wilson in 2023 Louisiana governor's race". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^Parker, Zach (March 15, 2023). "Edwards endorses Wilson as candidate for governor". The Ouachita Citizen. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
^Colombus, Danae (March 30, 2023). "Viewpoint: Gov. Edwards Introduces Candidate Shawn Wilson To New Orleans Heavy Hitters". Mid City Messenger. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
^"Commentary: We proudly endorse Shawn Wilson for governor". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. September 22, 2023. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
^"Editorial: The Times-Picayune, Nola.com endorse Stephen Waguespack for governor". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
^"2024 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
^"Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved July 24, 2023.