The 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held to elect the governor of Louisiana. Incumbent Democratic governor John Bel Edwards won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican businessman Eddie Rispone. Edwards became the first Democratic governor of Louisiana to win re-election to a second consecutive term in 44 years since Edwin Edwards (no relation) in 1975. It was the closest Louisiana gubernatorial election since 1979. This was the only Democratic-held governorship up for election in 2019 that Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election, and was the only statewide victory in 2019 for Democrats in Louisiana.

Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters may vote for any candidate regardless of their party affiliation. Because no candidate received an absolute majority of the vote during the primary election on October 12, 2019, a runoff election was held on November 16, 2019, between the top two candidates in the primary, Edwards and Rispone. Louisiana is the only state that has a jungle primary system (California and Washington have a similar top two primary system).

As of 2025, this remains the last time that a Democrat has won a statewide election in Louisiana, and the last time that a Democrat won a gubernatorial election in the Deep South.

Background On Edwards’ Inauguration Day in 2016, State House Republicans, in a break with tradition, elected their own speaker, Representative Taylor Barras of New Iberia, over Edwards' choice, Representative Walt Leger of New Orleans. This move was said to be orchestrated by House Republican chairman Lance Harris, who was considered a potential gubernatorial 2019 candidate and was a frequent Edwards critic. Edwards and Republican Legislative leaders repeatedly clashed over budget, tax and spending measures.

Attorney General Jeff Landry, who won Louisiana’s governorship in 2023 when Edwards was term-limited, was perhaps Edwards' most prominent detractor, filing multiple lawsuits against the governor and frequently criticizing him in the media. The two disagreed the most on social policies, such as Landry's staunch opposition to Edwards' executive order providing protections for LGBT workers of state government and contractors. Landry also assumed the leadership of David Vitter's Political Action Committee, the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, the organisation that was widely considered instrumental to Clay Higgins' upset Congressional victory over Scott Angelle in 2016. Landry has closely aligned with President Donald Trump and attended Trump's 2017 State of the Union speech.

Edwards also become a favorite target of U.S. representative Garret Graves, a Republican from Baton Rouge and former aide to Governor Bobby Jindal. Graves frequently criticized the governor during the state's response to the 2016 August floods in the state. The two notably sparred during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, of which Graves is a member. Edwards' aides called the exchange a "political ambush" while Graves accused the governor of lying. Graves was also closely aligned with the Trump Administration and donated $300 to the 2017 Trump Inaugural fund. Graves also accompanied Vice President Mike Pence during a visit to parts of the Baton Rouge area in May 2017.

As the only Democratic governor in the Deep South, Edwards and his agenda also been the target of numerous attacks from numerous groups affiliated with the national Republican Party such as America Rising and Americans for Prosperity. Edwards, declared himself to be unbothered by these groups, and went on to classify them as "a Washington, D.C., political action committee, trying to bring the never-ending campaign cycle to Louisiana."

Aware of their gubernatorial ambitions, Edwards and his aides repeatedly spoofed both U.S. senator John Neely Kennedy and Landry during their traditional response skits at Baton Rouge's Gridiron Show.

According to fundraising reports filed in 2016, Edwards had raised close to $3.3 million for his 2019 re-election effort. By comparison, Landry had $544,000 on hand for a potential future campaign. Graves and Kennedy had yet to form separate entities for statewide campaigns per Louisiana Law.

In the summer of 2017, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser announced that he would not be a candidate for governor in 2019, and had decided to run for re-election. Nungesser said that he had disclosed his plans to run for re-election to then Governor-elect John Bel Edwards during his transition period. During the fall of 2017, U.S. representative Ralph Abraham was reported to be running polls and assembling a staff to enter the race.

Democratic candidates Advanced to the runoff John Bel Edwards, incumbent governor of Louisiana

Defeated in the jungle primary Oscar Dantzler, former police officer and businessman

Disqualified Vinny Mendoza, perennial candidate

Republican candidates Advanced to the runoff Eddie Rispone, construction executive and former chair of the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council

Defeated in the jungle primary Ralph Abraham, U.S. representative for Louisiana's 5th congressional district Patrick Landry, artist and perennial candidate

Declined Bret Allain, state senator Conrad Appel, state senator Charles Boustany, former U.S. representative for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district and former U.S. representative for Louisiana's 7th congressional district John Fleming, former U.S. representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district Garret Graves, incumbent U.S. representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district Lance Harris, state representative and chairman of the Louisiana House Republican Caucus Troy Hebert, former ATC Commissioner and state senator Cameron Henry, state representative Sharon Hewitt, state senator John Kennedy, incumbent U.S. senator Jeff Landry, attorney general of Louisiana Billy Nungesser, incumbent lieutenant governor of Louisiana Steve Scalise, incumbent U.S. representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district John Schroder, Louisiana State Treasurer Alan Seabaugh, state representative Eric Skrmetta, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner

Disqualified Patrick Douget Manuel Russell Leach, contractor

Independents Defeated in jungle primary Gary Landrieu, businessman and perennial candidate

Declined

John Georges, businessman and candidate for governor of Louisiana in 2007

Jungle primary Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error John BelEdwards (D) RalphAbraham (R) EddieRispone (R) Other UndecidedMarket Research InsightMarket Research Insight October 8–10, 2019 600 (V) ± 4.0% 52% 17% 22% – 8%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R) October 8–10, 2019 1,070 (LV) ± 2.9% 48% 23% 25% 4% –Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D) October 4–10, 2019 1,525 (LV) ± 3.4% 48% 22% 26% 3% –Spry Strategies (R)Spry Strategies (R) October 8–9, 2019 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 39% 26% 25% – 10%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) October 5–8, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 20% 21% 6% 8%Remington (R)Remington (R) October 7, 2019 – – 42% 22% 22% – 7%Causeway Solutions (R)Causeway Solutions (R) October 7, 2019 – – 46% 23% 20% – 11%Emerson CollegeEmerson College October 4–7, 2019 467 (RV) ± 4.5% 48% 19% 25% 8% –Market Research InsightMarket Research Insight October 1–7, 2019 600 (V) ± 4.0% 51% 19% 19% 0% 11%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) October 3–5, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 47% 19% 22% 4% 8%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon October 1–4, 2019 625 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 17% 22% 6% 10%We Ask America (R)We Ask America (R) September 24–26, 2019 600 (LV) ± 3.99% 47% 17% 23% 2% 11%Remington (R)Remington (R) September 25, 2019 1,040 ± 2.9% 47% 22% 20% 3% 8%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) September 19–21, 2019 550 (LV) ± 4.2% 46% 18% 21% 4% 12%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) September 14–17, 2019 – ± 3.8% 41% 24% 16% 4% 16%Remington (R)Remington (R) September 10–11, 2019 1,144 (LV) ± 2.9% 45% 27% 19% 3% 6%Southern Media & Opinion ResearchSouthern Media & Opinion Research September 3–6, 2019 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 47% 24% 16% 0% 13%Market Research InsightMarket Research Insight August 13–16, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 52% 25% 19% 4% 0%Multi-QuestMulti-Quest July 19–21, 2019 601 (RV) ± 4.0% 44% 35% 6% 5% 10%Remington (R)Remington (R) June 1–2, 2019 1,471 (LV) ± 2.6% 42% 34% 8% – 16%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) April 25–29, 2019 650 (LV) ± 3.8% 38% 23% 7% – 32%Market Research InsightMarket Research Insight April 9–11, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.1% 46% 17% 5% – 32%Remington (R)Remington (R) March 13–14, 2019 1,464 (LV) ± 2.6% 44% 33% 10% – 13%LJR Custom Strategies (D)LJR Custom Strategies (D) January 14–27, 2019 600 (LV) – 45% 17% 4% 1% 32%Remington (R)Remington (R) December 11–12, 2018 1,680 (LV) ± 2.4% 43% 31% 9% – 17%

with John Kennedy Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error John BelEdwards (D) RalphAbraham (R) JohnKennedy (R) JeffLandry (R) EddieRispone (R) UndecidedSurveyUSA (R)SurveyUSA (R) October 15–21, 2018 605 (V) ± 4.9% 36% 6% 30% 8% 4% 18% 35% – 38% – 5% 21%Remington (R)Remington (R) September 11–12, 2018 1,615 (LV) ± 2.5% 40% 8% 37% – 3% 12%SurveyUSA (R)SurveyUSA (R) June 19–22, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.8% 35% 8% 35% – – 22%

Endorsements

Jungle primary results According to the Louisiana Secretary of State more than 384,000 early votes were cast, a significant increase from the 2015 gubernatorial election in which 234,000 early votes were cast.

Runoff Debates Dates Location John Bel Edwards Eddie Rispone LinkOctober 30, 2019Louisiana Public BroadcastingParticipantParticipant

Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 15, 2019Inside ElectionsNovember 8, 2019Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 14, 2019

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error John BelEdwards (D) EddieRispone (R) UndecidedThe Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R) November 13–15, 2019 1,107 (LV) ± 2.9% 49% 51% 0%Data for ProgressData for Progress October 29 – November 14, 2019 1,434 (LV) ± 2.6%50.2% 49.8% 0%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) November 12–13, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 47% 46% 7%Targoz Market ResearchTargoz Market Research November 7–13, 2019 640 (LV) – 50% 46% 4%Edgwater Research/My People VoteEdgwater Research/My People Vote November 11, 2019 661 (LV) ± 3.8% 49% 49% 2%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R) November 7–9, 2019 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 50% 48% 2%Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. November 5–7, 2019 625 (LV) ± 4.0% 48% 46% 6%Edgewater Research/My People VoteEdgewater Research/My People Vote October 28, 2019 722 (LV) ± 3.6% 50% 47% 3%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) October 24–26, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 47% 4%We Ask America (R)We Ask America (R) October 14–16, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 47% 47% 6%Spry Strategies (R) October 8–9, 2019 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 41% 45% 14%JMC Analytics (R) October 5–8, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 48% 39% 13%Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. October 1–4, 2019 625 (LV) ± 4.0% 51% 42% 7%ALG Research (D)ALG Research (D) September 30 – October 3, 2019 900 (LV) – 52% 36% –Remington (R) September 10–11, 2019 1,144 (LV) ± 2.9% 49% 44% 7%Market Research Insight August 13–16, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 55% 45% 0%Multi-Quest July 19–21, 2019 601 (RV) ± 4.0% 49% 29% 22%Remington (R) June 1–2, 2019 1,471 (LV) ± 2.6% 49% 38% 13%JMC Analytics (R) April 25–29, 2019 650 (LV) ± 3.8% 41% 28% 31%Market Research Insight April 9–11, 2019 600 (LV) ± 4.1% 47% 23% 30%Remington (R) March 13–14, 2019 1,464 (LV) ± 2.6% 48% 42% 10%LJR Custom Strategies (D) January 14–27, 2019 600 (LV) – 47% 19% –Remington (R) December 11–12, 2018 1,680 (LV) ± 2.4% 46% 39% 15%SurveyUSA (R) October 15–21, 2018 605 (V) ± 4.9% 47% 33% 19%Remington (R) September 11–12, 2018 1,615 (LV) ± 2.5% 52% 29% 19%

with Ralph Abraham