Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican backed by former President Donald Trump, won Louisiana’s gubernatorial race, holding off a crowded field of candidates.
The victory is a big victory for the Republican Party, which takes back the governor’s mansion for the first time in eight years.
Landry will replace incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards, who was unable to seek re-election due to consecutive term limits.
Edwards is the only Democratic governor in the Deep South.
Landry, 52, has raised the profile of the attorney general since he was elected in 2015.
He has used his position to defend conservative political positions.
More recently, Landry has been in the spotlight for her involvement and staunch support of Louisiana laws that have generated much debate, including the ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, the near-total ban on abortion in the state having no exceptions for cases of rape and incest, and a law restricting young people’s access to “sexually explicit material” in libraries, which opponents fear will target LGBTQ+ books.
By winning more than half the vote, Landry avoided a runoff under the state’s “jungle primary” system.
Landry will replace incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards, who was unable to seek re-election due to consecutive term limits.
Landry has repeatedly clashed with Edwards over state issues, including LGBTQ rights, state finances and the death penalty.
However, the Republican has also repeatedly put Louisiana in national fights, including over President Joe Biden’s policies limiting oil and gas production and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Landry spent two years on Capitol Hill, starting in 2011, where he represented Louisiana’s 3rd U.S. congressional district.
Prior to his political career, Landry served 11 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard, was a local police officer, deputy sheriff and attorney.
During the gubernatorial election season, Landry had long been considered the front-runner, earning endorsements from high-profile Republicans (Trump and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, who was nominated to be the next House speaker on Wednesday) and a controversial early endorsement from the state. Republican Party.
During the gubernatorial election season, Landry had long been considered the favorite, winning the endorsement of high-profile Republicans: Trump and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise.AP
Additionally, Landry has enjoyed a considerable fundraising advantage over the rest of the field throughout the race.
Landry has made it clear that one of his top priorities as governor would be to address crime in urban areas.
The Republican has pushed tough-on-crime rhetoric, calling for more “transparency” in the justice system and continuing to support capital punishment.
Louisiana has the second-highest per capita homicide rate in the country.
Throughout the election campaign, Landry faced political attacks from opponents on social media and in interviews, calling him a bully and accusing him of making secret deals to gain support.
The Republican has pushed tough rhetoric against crime, calling for more “transparency” in the justice system and continuing to support capital punishment.REUTERS
He also faced scrutiny for missing all but one of the main televised debates.
Other gubernatorial candidates on the ballot included Republican state Sen. Sharon Hewitt; Hunter Lundy, a Lake Charles-based attorney who runs as an independent; Republican State Treasurer John Schroder; Stephen Waguespack, former Republican head of a powerful business group and former top aide to then-Gov. Bobby Jindal; and Shawn Wilson, former head of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and only major Democratic candidate.
Also in Saturday’s vote were statewide races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer and four ballot measures.
A closely watched career is that of Attorney General, who holds the highest legal authority in the state’s executive branch.
Liz Baker Murrill, a Republican who currently works in the Attorney General’s Office, and Lindsey Cheek, a Democrat and trial attorney, have advanced to a runoff in November.
Landry spent two years on Capitol Hill, starting in 2011, where he represented Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District.AP
Also advancing to a runoff in the race for state treasurer are John Fleming, a Republican, and Dustin Granger, a Democrat.
There are hundreds of additional localized races, including the 39 Senate seats and the 105 House seats; however, a significant number of incumbents run unopposed.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn