Bill Smith / CC
The race for the governor’s mansion is now just eight months away, with incumbent Democrat John Bel Edwards currently set to face off in a jungle primary against Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone and Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the race has been quiet so far, but is set to blast off soon.
“Thirty days from now, 60 days from now, each month it will increase probably two-fold as far as the amount of money they are spending.”
Candidates have already begun their social media campaigns, with all three candidates sporting an active campaign page Facebook page and accompanying paid ads on the site.
It’s a governor’s race in an off year, no federal races will be on the ballot, but it comes just a year before a 2020 national election that will be in full swing by the time Louisiana voters visit the ballot box in fall. Pinsonat says expect the national climate to bleed over and mix with local issues.
“There will be some Trumpism in the background, it’ll be about conservative values, electing a Republican. It’ll be about John Bel stabilizing the budget and funding higher education and healthcare.”
The 2015 cycle saw Democrat and now Governor Edwards upset Louisiana Republican kingmaker David Vitter in a campaign that focused on a series of scandals that plagued the end of Vitter’s tenure in Washington. Pinsonat says expect a more policy focused race this time around.
“No one sees any scandals on the horizon, but everyone sees vicious attack ads on what you did as a Businessman, what you did as a congressman, or how you pushed taxes as a governor.
