Pro-Gun Dem John Bel Edwards Wins Louisiana Governor's Race!

Unfortunately, but as we predicted in our original article (see below) following the state's October primary, the Vitter team and his outside super-PAC supporters waged a sleazy campaign, routinely distorting Edwards' statements and his record. Fortunately, Edwards was a strong enough candidate to weather the storm and to give as good as he got and the people of Louisiana, we believe, chose the right candidate.

We look forward to the next four years as Governor-elect Edwards addresses the fiscal mess left to him by departing Governor Bobby Jindal. It is expected that Edwards will name a bi-partisan cabinet and try to work closely with the Republican-led legislature to put Louisiana back on a sound financial footing, expand the Medicaid program, and improve the Jindal-decimated schools within the state. We hope that the legislature is willing to put the interests of the people of Louisiana over partisan political interests and work with the new Governor, unlike their Republican brethren at the federal level.

October 2015 - Pro-Gun Democrat and West Point graduate John Bel Edwards won Louisiana's "jungle" gubernatorial primary over the weekend and will face second place finisher David Vitter in a runoff election November 21st. Three Republicans and Edwards were on the ballot for the October 24th open primary where, if no candidate receives 50% of the vote, the top two finishers, regardless of party, meet in a runoff election.

Edwards, a State Representative from Amite, led the field with 40% of the vote, while Vitter, one of Louisiana's two U.S. Senators, tallied 23%, just edging out Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, who received 19% of the vote. Sitting Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne trailed with 15%.

(Edwards, Vitter during debate)

Senator Vitter, a long-time and well-known figure in Louisiana politics, was expected to cruise into the runoff but found himself being dogged by scandals from the past and by more current questionable behavior. The most notable of these was his admitted involvement with prostitutes, which he has been able to sidestep in previous elections, but which has come back to haunt him this time around. More recently, ethical questions have arisen about Vitter having had illegal contact with independent Political Action Committees supporting his campaign and the charge, just days before the election, that an operative from a Texas "research" firm hired by his campaign was caught spying on a local sheriff who had endorsed Dardenne.

All of which caused Dardenne to run a last minute television ad describing Vitter as a cheater, a liar, and now a spy, who invades people's private conversations. The current thinking in the state is that the enmity is so great between the three Republicans that, while it is unlikely either Angelle or Dardenne will endorse Democratic Representative Edwards for Governor, neither of them will endorse Republican Vitter either. {November Update: In a surprise move, Lt. Governor Dardenne has come out and endorsed Democrat Edwards, saying that Senator Vitter would continue to damage the Republican brand that Governor Jindal already has damaged during his last term.}

Following the primary, in an attempt to turn attention away from Senator Vitter's past and away from the issues the Citizens of Louisiana have a right to hear, the Vitter campaign and the Republican Governor's Association immediately began the usual far-right scare tactic approach to campaigning in the Deep South in recent years: distort John Bel's positions on the issues and attempt to link him with national Democratic figures who don't poll well in Louisiana.

So for those of you who live in Louisiana, don't expect to see any pro-Vitter ads talking about Representative Edwards' pro-gun or pro-life positions. You won't hear them talking about what a good family man John Bel is, or about his strong faith, or hear about his growing up in a close-knit family where both his father and brother have served as sheriff in Tangipahoa Parish and where Representative Edwards learned that policies to support a strong middle class and working class are what drive economic activity and growth.

You won't hear the Republicans tell you that John Bel has been endorsed by the Louisiana Sheriff's Association, or that he opposed the disastrous education policies of Bobby Jindal, or that he wants to bring $16 billion of taxpayers' money back to Louisiana and improve the health of Louisiana's Citizens by expanding the Medicaid program.

No, you'll just hear them give you every made-up reason in the book not to vote for Representative Edwards. Heck, if you pay attention to the Vitter ads you'll probably see more pictures of President Obama than you will of Senator Vitter. But you'll probably also hear very few honest reasons to vote for Senator Vitter.

If you'd like to help out Representative Edwards with a contribution or by volunteering for him or just by getting a sign for your front lawn, visit the Edwards campaign website, www.JohnBelForLouisiana.com, where you can get more information. Go get 'em, John Bel!