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In his first election as governor in 1971-1972, Edwards defeated then state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]] in the [[Democratic Party]] runoff election and then [[Republican]] [[David C. Treen]] in the [[general election]]. In 1975, Edwards won a second term in the first of the state's nonpartisan blanket primary elections, a procedure which he had initiated in a bid to thwart the growth of the Republican Party in his state. Treen won the 1979 election for governor in a crowded field when Edwards could not seek a third consecutive term, but Edwards staged a major comeback in 1983 and handily unseated Treen. In each of his elections, Edwards enjoyed strong support from the [[African American]] community.

In his first election as governor in 1971-1972, Edwards defeated then state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]] in the [[Democratic Party]] runoff election and then [[Republican]] [[David C. Treen]] in the [[general election]]. In 1975, Edwards won a second term in the first of the state's nonpartisan blanket primary elections, a procedure which he had initiated in a bid to thwart the growth of the Republican Party in his state. Treen won the 1979 election for governor in a crowded field when Edwards could not seek a third consecutive term, but Edwards staged a major comeback in 1983 and handily unseated Treen. In each of his elections, Edwards enjoyed strong support from the [[African American]] community.

Edwards withdrew from a gubernatorial runoff in 1987, and the leading candidate that year, [[Buddy Roemer]] of Bossier City, became governor without a majority of the vote. In 1991, Edwards won his fourth term by defeating then State Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] who ran as a Republican but without state party backing. Duke had edged Roemer out of contention in the 1991 primary election. In the Duke-Edwards contest, even Edwards' old interparty rival, Treen, endorsed Edwards.  

Edwards withdrew from a gubernatorial runoff in 1987, and the leading candidate that year, [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Bossier City]], became governor without a majority of the vote. In 1991, Edwards won his fourth term by defeating then State Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] who ran as a Republican but without state party backing. Duke had edged Roemer out of contention in the 1991 primary election. In the Duke-Edwards contest, even Edwards' old interparty rival, Treen, endorsed Edwards.  

Prior to being governor, Edwards had been a member of the city council in Crowley in Acadia Parish in south Louisiana. He then served briefly in the Louisiana State Senate until he won a special election in 1965 for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], in which he served until his initial inauguration as governor.

Prior to being governor, Edwards had been a member of the city council in Crowley in Acadia Parish in south Louisiana. He then served briefly in the Louisiana State Senate until he won a special election in 1965 for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], in which he served until his initial inauguration as governor.