Who Will Be Frontrunners in Louisiana Governor’s Race?

In two years, Louisiana voters will make a decision about who should lead the state for the next four years. The election is on October 14, 2023.

Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there are two Republicans who almost certainly will enter the race to be governor, because they’ve talked about it already. State Attorney General Jeff Landry and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser are considered the top two contenders.

Governor John Bel Edwards has served two terms and can not run again. This leaves the race wide open for anyone who might want to jump in. Republicans are pushing to find a candidate who will change some of the liberal policies Edwards put in place. Democrats are trying to find a contender who can continue the Edwards policies.

Pinsonat says he expects at least a dozen or more hopefuls will qualify in 2023 to run for the state’s top spot. State Treasurer John Schroder is mentioned as a possible candidate, but there are many others. A democrat to watch is Baton Rouge state Representative Ted James. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins was also included in a recent JMC poll on the Governor's race and he was the only Democrat included on that poll. Former Congressman Cedric Richmond has also been mentioned as a possible contender on the Democratic side. Pinsonat also says don’t doubt that one of our congressional delegates in D.C. might want to run including Garrett Graves or even Mike Johnson.

Pinsonat says anyone who runs for governor in ’23 needs two things: a lot of cash and statewide name recognition.