DGA Statement on Louisiana’s Gubernatorial Race

The DGA released the following statement regarding Senator John Kennedy’s decision not to run for governor in 2019:
“Republicans only now seem to understand what Louisianans have known all along: John Bel Edwards has turned the state around with strong fiscal leadership after years of mismanagement,” said Democratic Governors Association Communications Director Jared Leopold. “Only 25 days ago, John Kennedy said only he and Steve Scalise could beat Governor Edwards. Now, both have chosen not to run against him.
“Senator Kennedy did the same thing that every other top Republican recruit did: He paid for a poll and then realized he could not beat Gov. Edwards. National Republicans must be scrambling now that the top 3 Republican recruits have chosen not to run for governor.
“The answer why they did is obvious. More people in Louisiana are working than ever before and Governor Edwards’ prudent fiscal management has led to a budget surplus. Some 480,000 more Louisianans have access to affordable health care and no longer have to worry about facing crushing medical bills in case of emergency. With this kind of record of bipartisan leadership, Governor Edwards is in a strong position to win re-election.”
BACKGROUND:
Sen. John Kennedy: “There are only two people who can beat him: one is Scalise and one is me.” According to CNN, “‘I think based on the extensive polling that I’ve done and I’ve seen there are only two people who can beat him: one is Scalise and one is me, Kennedy told CNN, referring to House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who has rejected any interest in running for governor.” [CNN, 11/26/18]
In November 2018, Rep. Steve Scalise “Denied Any Interest” in Challenging Gov. Edwards in 2019. According to the New Orleans Advocate, “An election Scalise isn’t plotting is a 2019 campaign for the Governor’s Mansion against Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. Scalise again denied any interest in running against Edwards — as he has multiple times over the past year, telling a crowd over the summer there’s ‘no way’ he’d mount a 2019 run — and said he’ll serve out the full two-year term as minority whip.” [The Advocate, 11/12/18]
In November 2018, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Said He Would Not Challenge Governor Edwards in 2019 Gubernatorial Race. According to the Associated Press, “Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said Wednesday (Nov. 14) that he won’t challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards in next year’s governor’s race, choosing instead to run for re-election as the state’s chief legal officer after significantly raising the profile of the job.” [Associated Press, 11/14/18]
Under Governor John Bel Edwards, “More Louisianans report having a job than ever before.” According to AP, “More Louisianans report having a job than ever before, a sign the state’s economy is improving. Employers reported 9,000 more workers in April than in March, another strong sign.” [Associated Press, 5/18/18]

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