LOUISIANA
      Oct. 14, 2023 Governor (Blanket Primary)

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Oct. 14, 2023 Blanket Primary
+Jeff Landry (R)
 		547,827
 		51.56%
Shawn Wilson (D)
 		275,525
 		25.93%
Stephen Waguespack (R)
 		62,287
 		5.86%
John Schroder (R)
 		56,654
 		5.33%
Hunter Lundy (I)
 		52,165
 		4.91%
Danny Cole (D)
 		27,662
 		2.60%
Sharon Hewitt (R)
 		18,468
 		1.74%
Others (8)
B.Barnes (I) 5,190, P.H.Bartel (R) 4,426, R.Nelson (R) 3,605, J.Istre (I) 3,400, X.Ellis (R) 1,734, K.Gagnon (NoPty) 1,260, X.John 1,164, F.Scurlock 1,131.
 21,910
< 1%
each

1,062,498
Registration: 2,970,685.  Total Voters: 1,078,689.
 LA Secretary of State


REPUBLICAN PICK-UP
Notes:  Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) was term limited.  Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) exceeded 50-percent in the Oct. 14 blanket primary, thereby avoiding the need for a Nov. 18 runoff.  Former State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson (D finished second; all told fifteen candidates were on the ballot.

Landry, who announced his candidacy via video on Oct. 5, 2022 (>), received the endorsement of the Louisiana Republican Party on Nov. 6.  The rest of the Republican field took shape in the first quarter of 2023.  A couple of  leading Republicans—U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (Jan. 4) and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (Jan. 9)—opted not to run.  Treasurer John Schroder entered on Jan. 9 with a formal announcement in February (>); state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, from Slidell, formally announced on Jan. 13 (>), state Rep. Richard Nelson, from Mandeville, the youngest candidate in the field, entered on Jan. 18, and Stephen Waguespack, a former chief of staff to Gov. Bobby Jindal and head of Louisiana Association of Business and Industry since 2013, on Mar. 9 (>). 
 
Wilson served as Secretary of Transportation for seven years in the Edwards administration (Jan. 2016-Mar. 2023), and previously was chief of staff at the Department.  He announced his candidacy on Mar. 6, 2023, pledging to "build bridges, not burn them (>)."

Lake Charles attorney Hunter Lundy, running as an independent, announced on Jan. 12, and was also seen as a top-tier candidate; he largely self-financed his campaign.

But Landry was the one to watch.  As Attorney General, elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, Landry achieved a high profile, countering the Democratic governor Edwards and taking a number of "hard-line" positions on social issues.  Previously Landry served one term in Congress, before losing his 2012 re-election bid after redistricting.  Earlier he served as a sheriff's deputy and police officer and in the Louisiana National Guard.  Landry hails from St. Martinsville in Cajun territory and speaks with a Cajun accent.  On May 8, 2023 he received former President Donald Trump's endorsement.  On Sept. 20, Nelson withdrew from the race and endorsed Landry.  Landry enjoyed a huge fundraising advantage over his competitors.  A minor controversy arose in late September with reports that his campaign had hired controversial former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski as a political advisor.

Waguespack, using the nickname "Wags" and presenting himself as an outsider, seemed to gain some momentum in the closing months of the campaign.  On Aug. 22 he unveiled a four-point plan: cut taxes and regulations, improve education, train workers here at home, and tackle the insurance crisis.  On Sept. 21 the Times-Picayune and Nola.com endorsed him stating, "He’s enough of a political insider to know the ropes, yet he remains enough of an outsider to offer fresh perspectives (>)." 
 
Aside from Landry, who skipped all debates but the Sept. 15 event, the other top candidates engaged in numerous debates and forums including:

Aug 18 - five candidates: Hewitt, Lundy, Nelson, Waguespack, and Wilson - forum hosted by Chamber SWLA in Lake Charles (>);

Aug. 29 - five candidates: Cole, Ellis, Lundy, Nelson, and Scourlock - meet the candidates forum at University of Lousiana Monroe, broadcast by 90.3 KEDM Public Radio (>);

Sept. 7 - first official debate...five candidates: Hewitt, Lundy, Schroder, Waguespack, and Wilson (Landry declined) - debate broadcast on WWL-TV (>);

Sept. 13 - six candidates: Hewitt, Lundy, Nelson, Schroder, Waguespack, and Wilson - DebateLSU Gubernatorial Forum (>);

Sept. 15 - seven candidates: Hewitt, Landry, Lundy, Nelson, Schroder, Waguespack, and Wilson - KLFY and Nexstar Media debate from KLFY News 10 Studios (>);

Sept. 26 - Wilson and Waguespack (Landry declined) - Gray TV debate at the University of New Orleans (>);

Sept. 28 - five candidates: Hewitt, Lundy, Schroder, Waguespack and Wilson (Landry declined) - Louisiana Public Broadcasting and Council for A Better Louisiana debate (>);

Oct. 5 - five candidates: Hewitt, Lundy, Schroder, Waguespack and Wilson - Ellevate Louisiana forum at the InterConntinental Hotel in New Orleans;

Oct. 9 - four candidates: Hewitt, Lundy, Waguespack, and Wilson - health forum at Dillard University in New Orleans, broadcast by WBOK 1230AM (>).
Outside spending in the race was significant, including by Protect Louisiana's Children LLC (supporting Landry), Reboot Louisiana PAC (supporting Waguespack), and the Republican Governors Association (attacking Wilson).

Landry avoided the runoff and heralded the "historic" win which he said showed that the state is united (>).  Turnout was relatively low, unofficially 35.8%.


Campaign Managers:
Jeff Landry:
consultant Brent Littlefield

Shawn Wilson:  Brandin M. Campbell
Principal consultant at Capture Connect Media in New Orleans since Sept. 2010.  Sales manager, market expansion for Nola Media Group/Advance Local, 2013-Jan. 2016.  Senior account executive at IHeart Media, July 2006-Mar. 2016.  Financial representative for Northwestern Mutual, Apr. 2002-Sept. 2005.  B.S. in marketing from Xavier University of Louisiana, 2004.

 
See also:
Sara Cline.  "Republican Jeff Landry wins Louisiana governor's race, reclaims office for  GOP."  The Associated Press, Oct. 14, 2023.

Tyler Bridges.  "5 candidates for governor settle into familiar rhythm on debate stage."  nola.com, Oct. 5, 2023.

--.  "Louisiana Governor's Race Voter Guide: Read about candidates' views on crime, education, more."  The Advocate, Oct. 4, 2023.

Sam Karlin.  "See who has the most money on hand for the home stretch of the governor's race primary."  nola.com, Sept. 15, 2023.

Greg Hilburn.  "National Republican Governors Association enters Louisiana race with major TV buy."  Shreveport Times, Sept. 1, 2023.

Sabrina Wilson.  "Louisiana gubernatorial candidates airing new attack ads as race starts heating up."  WVUE FOX 8, Aug. 21, 2023.

Julie O'Donoghue.  "After avoiding opponents, Jeff Landry will take part in at least one gubernatorial debate."  Louisiana Illuminator, Aug. 11, 2023.

Sabrina Wilson.  "PACs begin airing attack ads hoping to influence Louisiana  governor's race."  WVUE FOX 8, June 5, 2023.

Julie O'Donoghue.  "Busted: Louisiana Republican's bid for governor largely funded by secret donors and mysterious PACs."  Louisiana Illuminator, Apr. 18, 2023.

Greg Larose.  "Stephen Waguespack announces run for Louisiana governor."  Louisiana Illuminator, Mar. 9, 2023.

 Sam Karlin.  "LA GOP endorses Jeff Landry for governor early, drawing blowback from two rivals."  The Advocate, Nov. 7, 2022.

Greg Hilburn.  "Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry first to launch campaign for governor.  Monroe News-Star, Oct. 5, 2022.
                                                          
 

 
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