2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election

The 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held to elect the governor of Louisiana. Incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office.[1] This race was one of two Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2023 in a state that voted for Donald Trump in 2020.

2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election

October 14, 2023
Turnout35.8% Decrease
 
Candidate Jeff Landry Shawn Wilson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 547,827 275,525
Percentage 51.6% 25.9%

 
Candidate Stephen Waguespack John Schroder
Party Republican Republican
Popular vote 62,287 56,654
Percentage 5.9% 5.3%

Landry:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Wilson:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%

Governor before election

John Bel Edwards
Democratic

Elected Governor

Jeff Landry
Republican

Under Louisiana's two round system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters may vote for any candidate regardless of that person's party affiliation. If no candidate had received an absolute majority of the vote during the primary election on October 14, 2023, a runoff election would have been held on November 18, 2023, between the top two candidates in the primary.[2]

Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry won with over 51% of the vote in the primary, becoming the first person to win a Louisiana gubernatorial election without a runoff since Bobby Jindal in 2011. Landry easily prevailed over several Republican opponents, including former state chamber of commerce CEO Stephen Waguespack and State Treasurer John Schroder. Former state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson was the leading Democratic candidate.[3] Hunter Lundy was the leading Independent candidate.

Background

Louisiana, like much of the Deep South, is a very socially conservative "Bible Belt" state. Democrats were the favored party at all levels of government as recently as the 1990s, however the Republican Party has since rapidly gained ground, first at the federal level and gradually at the state and local level as well. Today, the state is strongly Republican-leaning and, at the time of the election, Republicans held both of the state's U.S. Senate seats, all but one of its U.S. House seats, both of its state legislative chambers, and every statewide executive office except the governorship.

John Bel Edwards, a conservative Democrat, was able to win two terms as governor and overcome the state's partisan lean by diverging from the national party on certain policy matters, such as abortion, while also appealing to Louisiana's contemporary Democratic voting base.[4][5] However, as Edwards was term-limited going into the election, most analysts expected the governorship to flip back to the Republican Party in 2023, primarily due to the lack of Democratic candidates with Edwards' crossover appeal.[6]

Democratic candidates

Declared

Declined

Republican candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

Declined

Independent candidates

Declared

Jungle primary

Campaign

The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed Attorney General Jeff Landry's campaign on November 7, 2022, a year before the election. The party had had a full-body meeting scheduled for October 29, but it was canceled, and instead the endorsement was voted on in an exclusive meeting held over Zoom.[43] Landry and Eddie Rispone, a member of the Republican State Central Committee who supports him, had pushed the party to make an early endorsement, arguing that the Republicans' best chance of flipping the governorship was to unite around one candidate well in advance of the election. This move was heavily criticized by other Republicans who had expressed interest in running for governor. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said the party's endorsement process "looks more like communist China than the Louisiana we know and love," State Treasurer John Schroder claimed it was driven by "money and inside party politics," and Louisiana Senate Majority Leader Sharon Hewitt proclaimed "the citizens of Louisiana do not need backroom deals and political insiders telling them who should be our next governor." Michael DiResto, a member of the Republican State Central Committee, believed "the idea that a small cabal would preempt the democratic process literally under the cover of darkness and in a smoke-filled Zoom goes against the foundational values of our party."[44][45] In response, Louisiana Republican Party chair Louis Gurvich said "others who are crying over this endorsement are just upset because they didn't have the support within our party to win the endorsement for themselves."[46]

Endorsements

Jeff Landry (R)
Federal officials
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
State legislators
Individuals
Organizations
Political parties
Shawn Wilson (D)
Federal officials
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Individuals
Political parties
Newspapers and other media
Stephen Waguespack (R)
U.S. Representatives
Newspapers and other media

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[64] Lean R (flip) July 21, 2023
Inside Elections[65] Likely R (flip) September 1, 2023
Sabato's Crystal Ball[66] Likely R (flip) July 13, 2023
Elections Daily[67] Safe R (flip) July 12, 2023

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
Hewitt
(R)
Istre
(I)
Landry
(R)
Lundy
(I)
Nelson
(R)
Schroder
(R)
Waguespack
(R)
Wilson
(D)
Other Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[upper-alpha 1] September 12–15, 2023 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 2% 0% 40% 4% 1% 3% 9% 24% 2%[lower-alpha 2] 15%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[upper-alpha 2] September 11–15, 2023 1,062 (LV) ± 2.9% 4.1% 37.7% 6.3% 1.2% 6.5% 6.7% 22.6% 14.9%
Faucheux Strategies[upper-alpha 3] August 14–19, 2023 800 (LV) ± 3.46% 3% 36% 7% 2% 4% 6% 26% 2% 14%
Emerson College August 13–14, 2023 982 (LV) ± 3.1% 5% 40% 5% 22% 10[lower-alpha 3] 18%
BDPC[upper-alpha 4] July 6–10, 2023 600 (V) ± 4.0% 4% 30% 5% 1% 6% 5% 28% 23%
Kaplan Strategies June 30 – July 2, 2023 1,077 (LV) ± 3.0% 5% 30% 5% 2% 6% 6% 22% 24%
Remington Research (R)[upper-alpha 5] June 22–25, 2023 896 (LV) ? 3% 25% 4% 0% 7% 16% 27% 18%
WPA Intelligence (R)[upper-alpha 6] June 15–17, 2023 500 (LV) ± 2.45% 2% <1% 35% 4% <1% 3% 6% 27% 2% 18%
The Kitchens Group (D)[upper-alpha 7] June 12–15, 2023 1,600 (LV) ± 2.45% ≥6% 31% 4% ≥6% ≥6% 21% 7%[lower-alpha 4] 25%
WPA Intelligence (R)[upper-alpha 6] April 30 – May 2, 2023 500 (LV) ± 2.45% 2% 1% 32% 2% 1% 6% 2% 18% 4% 32%
WPA Intelligence (R)[upper-alpha 6] April 11–13, 2023 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 3% 36% 3% 1% 6% 2% 18% 1%[lower-alpha 5] 29%
WPA Intelligence (R)[upper-alpha 8] Before April 18, 2023 ? ? 35% 25% 17%[lower-alpha 6] 23%
JMC Analytics[upper-alpha 9] March 6–8, 2023 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 2% 28% 3% 3% 29% 22%
BDPC[upper-alpha 10] December 7–13, 2022 630 (LV) ± 4.0% 3% 22% 2% 2% 23% 23%[lower-alpha 7] 24%
Torchlight Strategies[upper-alpha 11] December 6–9, 2022 861 (LV) ± 3.3% 14% 22% 42%[lower-alpha 8] 20%
Torchlight Strategies[upper-alpha 11] November 9–12, 2022 800 (LV) ± 3.5% <1% 13% 2% 1% 18% 40%[lower-alpha 9] 26%
JMC Analytics (R) March 21–23, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 2% 11% 1% 46%[lower-alpha 10] 29%
Hypothetical polling
Jeff Landry vs. Sharon Hewitt
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
Jeff
Landry (R)
Sharon
Hewitt (R)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[upper-alpha 1] September 12–15, 2023 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 53% 23% 24%
Jeff Landry vs. Hunter Lundy
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
Jeff
Landry (R)
Hunter
Lundy (I)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[upper-alpha 1] September 12–15, 2023 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 56% 30% 14%
Jeff Landry vs. John Schroder
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
Jeff
Landry (R)
John
Schroder (R)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[upper-alpha 1] September 12–15, 2023 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 51% 23% 26%
Jeff Landry vs. Stephen Waguespack
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
Jeff
Landry (R)
Stephen
Waguespack (R)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[upper-alpha 1] September 12–15, 2023 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 52% 27% 21%
Jeff Landry vs. Shawn Wilson
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
Jeff
Landry (R)
Shawn
Wilson (D)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[upper-alpha 1] September 12–15, 2023 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 52% 39% 9%
Faucheux Strategies[upper-alpha 3] August 14–19, 2023 800 (LV) ± 3.46% 54% 36% 10%
BDPC[upper-alpha 4] July 6–10, 2023 600 (V) ± 4.0% 45% 40% 16%
John Kennedy vs. Jeff Landry
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
John
Kennedy (R)
Jeff
Landry (R)
Undecided
Torchlight Strategies[upper-alpha 11] December 6–9, 2022 861 (LV) ± 3.3% 46% 21% 27%
John Kennedy vs. Shawn Wilson
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
John
Kennedy (R)
Shawn
Wilson (D)
Undecided
Torchlight Strategies[upper-alpha 11] December 6–9, 2022 861 (LV) ± 3.3% 58% 27% 14%
Torchlight Strategies[upper-alpha 11] November 9–12, 2022 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 58% 32% 12%
Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]
Margin
of error
Generic
Democrat
Generic
Republican
Undecided
JMC Analytics (R) March 21–23, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 33% 50% 17%

Results

Turnout map by parish
  25–30%
  30–35%
  35–40%
  40–45%
  45–50%
  50–60%
2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election[68]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Landry 547,827 51.6
Democratic Shawn Wilson 275,525 25.9
Republican Stephen Waguespack 62,287 5.9
Republican John Schroder 56,654 5.3
Independent Hunter Lundy 52,165 4.9
Democratic Danny Cole 27,662 2.6
Republican Sharon Hewitt 18,468 1.7
Independent Benjamin Barnes 5,190 0.5
Republican Dat Barthel 4,426 0.4
Republican Richard Nelson (withdrawn) 3,605 0.3
Independent Jeffery Istre 3,400 0.3
Republican Xavier Ellis 1,734 0.2
Independent Keitron Gagnon 1,260 0.1
Republican Xan John 1,164 0.1
Independent Frank Scurlock 1,131 0.1
Total votes 1,062,498 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. Oscar Dantzler & Patrick Henry Barthel with 1%; Benjamin Barnes, Daniel Cole, Xavier Ellis,Keitron Gagnon, Xan John & Frank Scurlock with 0%
  3. No other candidate received more than 5%
  4. "Someone else" with 7%
  5. "Someone else" with 1%
  6. No other candidate received more than 3%
  7. Billy Nungesser (R) with 23%
  8. John Kennedy (R) with 42%
  9. John Kennedy (R) with 22%; Billy Nungesser (R) with 7%; Bill Cassidy (R) with 6%; Garret Graves (R) with 5%
  10. John Kennedy (R) with 22%; Sharon Weston Broome (D) with 14%; Bill Cassidy (R) with 10%; Billy Nungesser (R) with 7%; Gary Smith Jr. (D) with 4%
Partisan clients
  1. Poll sponsored by Gray Television
  2. Poll commissioned by LA Integrity PAC
  3. Poll commissioned by WWL-TV, WBRZ-TV, KTBS-TV, KATC-TV, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, Urban League of Louisiana and Public Affairs Research Council
  4. Poll sponsored by the conservative group Citizens for a New Louisiana
  5. Poll sponsored by Reboot Louisiana, a super PAC supporting Waguespack
  6. Poll sponsored by Club for Growth, which has endorsed Landry
  7. Poll sponsored by Vantage Data House
  8. Poll conducted for Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser
  9. Poll conducted for Attorney General candidate John Belton
  10. Poll conducted for Billy Nungesser
  11. Poll conducted for John Kennedy

References

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  7. Noakes, Alena (February 15, 2023). "Cenla resident running for Louisiana governor". KALB.
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  9. Cunningham, Joe (February 13, 2023). "After Controversial Viral Ad, Louisiana Democratic Chair Says She Isn't Running for Governor". KPEL965. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  10. Bridges, Tyler (April 1, 2023). "Katie Bernhardt, no longer facing challenge to her job, says Democrats face brighter days". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
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  12. Jacobs, David (May 18, 2023). "Roundup: Broome endorsement / Titanic wreckage / TreadBR rebrand". Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  13. Bridges, Tyler (January 24, 2023). "Jeff Landry leads in early governor's race poll". The Advocate. Retrieved February 27, 2023. Chambers said he has ruled out running if Shawn Wilson, the retiring state transportation secretary, enters the race
  14. Bridges, Tyler (March 7, 2023). "Troy Carter endorses Shawn Wilson's campaign for governor. Here's why it matters". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  15. "District Attorney Hillar Moore Won't Run for Governor". February 28, 2023.
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  28. "Sen. Bill Cassidy has decided on whether or not he will run for governor". WDSU. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  29. "Congressman Graves says he will make a decision soon on governor's race". January 11, 2023.
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  32. Adragna, Anthony (November 14, 2022). "John Kennedy says he's giving "serious consideration" to jumping into the open Louisiana governor's race next year". Politico. Politico. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  33. Hilburn, Greg (January 4, 2023). "Republican Senator John Kennedy out of Louisiana governor's race". The Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
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  37. Alford, Jeremy. "Thinking about 2023? You can bet some of these Louisiana politicians are". houmatoday. houmatoday. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  38. "LOUISIANA. State Agriculture Comm Mike Strain (R) announced he will seek reelection next year to a fifth term; will not run for Governor".
  39. Paterson, Blake (October 18, 2021). "State Sen. Rick Ward says he's considering a run for governor of Louisiana". The Advocate. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  40. "End of the Road: Rick Ward ends 11-year Louisiana Senate career". Ward hinted earlier this year about a run for governor. He said those plans are off the table, at least for now.
  41. "Jeffery Istre joins race for governor". KPLC. February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  42. Maricle, Doris (September 8, 2022). "Lundy announces run for governor". The American Press. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  43. "Republicans react to state GOP endorsing Jeff Landry for Governor".
  44. Karlin, Sam (November 7, 2022). "LA GOP endorses Jeff Landry for governor early, drawing blowback from two rivals". The Advocate. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  45. Hilburn, Greg (November 7, 2022). "Louisiana Republican Party endorses Jeff Landry in 2023 governor's race". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  46. "Senator John Kennedy mulls Louisiana governor's race; releases poll showing him as favorite".
  47. "Former President Donald Trump endorses Jeff Landry in race for governor". WAFB. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
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  49. Thorington, Brooke (December 14, 2022). "Congressman Higgins endorses Landry for governor". Louisiana Radio Network. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  50. Hilburn, Greg (January 9, 2023). "Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson endorses Jeff Landry for governor: What's next?". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  51. Finn, James (September 21, 2023). "Steve Scalise endorses Jeff Landry in Louisiana governor's race". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  52. Hutchinson, Piper (September 20, 2023). "Richard Nelson exits governor's race, endorses Jeff Landry". WWNO. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  53. Bridges, Tyler (December 16, 2022). "With key backers, Jeff Landry is seen as early front-runner in Louisiana governor race". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  54. "From the NRA to labor unions, see who's endorsing each candidate for Louisiana governor". www.nola.com. October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  55. "Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 4/25". Daily Kos. April 25, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
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  58. "Major endorsements line up for Shawn Wilson to become Louisiana's next governor". thedrumnewspaper. June 24, 2023.
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  68. "Unofficial Results for Election Date: 10/14/2023 Governor".
Official campaign websites
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