State Treasurer John Schroder and Attorney General Jeff Landry.
We are starting to get a better idea of who’s in and who’s out of the governor’s race since Senator John Kennedy announced he’s staying put and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will seek re-election. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross said it appears some of the biggest names in state politics are no longer interested in the job.
“It completely changes the complexion of the race and reshapes it with less than a year to go,” said Cross.
As of today, the two major candidates are Attorney General Jeff Landry and Treasurer John Schroder, both Republicans. So far, a Democrat hasn’t officially announced but Cross said that could change with neither Kennedy nor Senator Bill Cassidy running for governor.
“Not having one of the United States Senators in the race it’s going to make it more likely that a Democrat is going to give it a serious run,” said Cross.
As for who’s considered a frontrunner in the race, Cross said Landry, who’s been endorsed by the state Republican party, appears to have more working in his favor as opposed to Schroder.
“Jeff Landry has a much higher name recognition, he’s been around a bit longer, and has a better fundraising apparatus so you’d have to say that Landry has the advantage in that regard,” said Cross.
Between the two Cross said it could come down to a competition to see who’s the most conservative.
Republican Congressman Garret Graves and GOP state lawmakers Sharon Hewitt and Richard Nelson could still enter the race. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson and Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt seem like the most likely Democratic candidates.
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