Republican Jeff Landry Elected Louisiana Governor

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Facts

  • Louisiana's Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry was elected the state's next governor on Saturday in a primary that pitted all 14 contenders against each other regardless of party. Landry was endorsed by former Pres. Donald Trump.1
  • Landry secured 52% of the vote to win outright and avoid a runoff on Nov. 18. His closest rival, Democratic candidate and former Louisiana transportation secretary Shawn Wilson, conceded the defeat from his election night event in New Orleans after getting little more than a quarter of the vote.2
  • This is the first time that there will be no gubernatorial runoff in Louisiana since Republican Bobby Jindal was re-elected in 2011. While races for attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer have advanced to the November runoff, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser was re-elected on Saturday's ballot.3
  • With this victory, the GOP reclaims the state's top position after eight years. Landry, who championed conservative policy positions during his tenure as attorney general and ran a tough-on-crime platform, will replace term-limited Gov. John Bel Edwards — the only Democratic governor in the Deep South.4
  • Though Louisiana is a red state, with Trump winning it by almost 19 points in 2020, Landry will become only the fourth Republican governor since the end of Reconstruction.5
  • The race was the first major contest in the state ahead of the 2024 elections. Democrats and Republicans will face more races this year, including a gubernatorial election in Kentucky, and state legislative elections in Virginia.6

Sources: 1The Wall Street Journal, 2USA Today, 3ABC News, 4New York Post, 5Politico and 6FOX News.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by The New York Times. Without a Democratic governor to veto several controversial bills approved by the Republican-controlled state legislature, Louisiana will hurtle down a far-right path that will target the rights of women, Black people, and the LGBTQ+ community. As the state is facing a declining population, these policies may be disastrous for the state's future.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. While Louisiana has long been a red state, this outright victory is a positive sign for the GOP ahead of the 2024 elections. The abortion issue, which caused a disappointing 'Red Trickle' in midterm elections by rallying left-leaning voters, may no longer be a powerful subject to scare voters into the Democratic Party fold.