In the Deep South, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards will stave off a challenge from a Donald Trump-backed GOP rival to win reelection in Louisiana's tight gubernatorial race, the Associated Press has projected.
In the Deep South, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards will stave off a challenge from a Donald Trump-backed GOP rival to win reelection in Louisiana's tight gubernatorial race, the Associated Press has projected.
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Edwards lead GOP candidate Eddie Rispone, 50.7% to 49.3%, late Saturday, according to unofficial results from Louisiana's secretary of state's office at the time of the call.
After overcoming Trump and Rispone's challenge, Edwards, speaking at his election-night party, invoked a common southern refrain often used before politely insulting someone.
"And as for the president," Edwards said, according to the AP, "God bless his heart."
The result is seen as a stinging blow to the president, who bet heavily on Rispone. It's the second time this week a Trump-backed candidate has lost a major race.
The runoff election came amid a looming impeachment investigation that seeped into the state's off-year contest, nationalizing the last gubernatorial election of 2019.
Trump made three stops in the state for back-to-back rallies in a little over a month, testing the bounds of his strength to sway an election outcome in Republicans' favor -- as the party grapples with concerns over ceding more ground in a ruby red state.
Rispone, an entrepreneur and native of northern Baton Rouge, counted on the president's popularity to offset his struggles as a political outsider -- he began his bid with little state-wide name recognition, up against the incumbent -- and carry him over the finish line as Trump often claims he does in tight races.