To date, there are five candidates running for governor, four Republicans and one Independent, and no Democrats. ULM-Political Science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley said it would be disappointing if a Democrat doesn’t get in the race because all spectrums and perspectives wouldn’t be represented.
“The people of Louisiana deserve a competitive slew of candidates from which to choose from, conservative, liberal, Democrat, Republican, they should all be represented,” said Stockley.
Stockley said if all of the candidates are conservative Republicans then most of the state is actually not represented in a candidate. He said the majority of this state is not conservative, there are moderates and liberals that wouldn’t have a candidate they identify with.
“I do worry that a limited candidate field will cause a lot of people not to participate in our statewide elections,” said Stockley.
And with the primary less than ten months away, Stockley said the longer a Democrat waits to join the race puts them at disadvantage.
“Realistically I would think that after the month of January, the odds of running a competitive election for a statewide office is very, very, very, very difficult,” said Stockley.
Republicans – Attorney General Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, Representative Sharon Hewitt, and Representative Richard Nelson have announced their candidacy along with Independent Hunter Lundy for governor.
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