Governor's mansion in Baton Rouge
Louisiana will elect a new governor in about 18 months, but there are virtually NO officially announced candidates at this time. New Orleans political analyst Ron Faucheux says, in years past, prospective candidates would have announced their intentions by now to maximize campaign fundraising.
“Candidates are making decisions later than they used to, and they’re beginning their campaigns later than they used to,” Faucheux says
There have been some familiar names mentioned as POSSIBLY running for governor in 2023. Attorney General Jeff Landry, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser have mentioned they were considering it. State Treasurer John Schroder has told supporters he’ll run, but has made no official announcement. Another name being mentioned is U.S. Senator John Kennedy. Faucheux says he’d be shocked if that happens.
“I had gotten the impression that he’d decided he did NOT want to run for Governor. You’d have to ask him about it, but that is sort of what he said. Particularly now that he’s running for re-election to the Senate” Faucheux says.
Faucheux says state senators Rick Ward and Sharon Hewitt are also possible candidates.
“There are some state legislators who are thinking about it and have talked about it. Of course, you also have the possibility that U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy would run for governor, and he’s said that he’s given it some thought.”
The race is wide open, as Governor John Bel Edwards has reached his term limit, and may not run again. Faucheux says he’d have thought the field of prospective candidates would be taking shape by now.
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