Changes

Senator Kennedy endorsed his fellow St. Tammany Parish resident, Republican former state Representative [[John Schroder]] in the special election runoff held on November 18, 2017, to choose Kennedy's successor as state treasurer. Schroder won his race for treasurer.

Senator Kennedy endorsed his fellow St. Tammany Parish resident, Republican former state Representative [[John Schroder]] in the special election runoff held on November 18, 2017, to choose Kennedy's successor as state treasurer. Schroder won his race for treasurer.

==Potential gubernatorial candidacy in 2011==

==Potential gubernatorial candidacy in 2019==

In March 2018, Kennedy accused Governor John Bel Edwards , whom he may challenge for reelection in 2019, of attempting to tax the state into prosperity. Kennedy said that believes Louisiana voters as a whole do believe there is a state fiscal crisis. Edwards' office disputed Kennedy's criticism and said the former state treasurer has offer no solutions for state financial problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_8524f6f0-2181-11e8-877a-6f530176b7d4.html|title=U.S. Sen. John Kennedy blisters Gov. John Bel Edwards, says voters doubt fiscal crisis|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Will Sentell|date=March 6, 2018|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, Kennedy accused Governor John Bel Edwards , whom he may challenge for reelection in 2019, of attempting to tax the state into prosperity. Kennedy said that believes Louisiana voters as a whole do believe there is a state fiscal crisis. Edwards' office disputed Kennedy's criticism and said the former state treasurer has offer no solutions for state financial problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_8524f6f0-2181-11e8-877a-6f530176b7d4.html|title=U.S. Sen. John Kennedy blisters Gov. John Bel Edwards, says voters doubt fiscal crisis|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Will Sentell|date=March 6, 2018|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref>

In August 2018, Kennedy criticized Edwards in regard to criminal justice overhaul. Kennedy said that Edwards advocated a "soft approach" to dangerous prisoners. Kennedy noted that he had warned that early prison releases backed by Edwards would lead to murders: "it was inevitable." Kennedy said that Edwards "just thinks these guys are sick and confused. I think a lot of them are bad." Kennedy sent a letter to President Trump  outlining the senator's opposition to Edwards' criminal justice policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=

In August 2018, Kennedy criticized Edwards in regard to criminal justice overhaul. Kennedy said that Edwards advocated a "soft approach" to dangerous prisoners. Kennedy noted that he had warned that early prison releases backed by Edwards would lead to murders: "it was inevitable." Kennedy said that Edwards "just thinks these guys are sick and confused. I think a lot of them are bad." Kennedy sent a letter to President Trump  outlining the senator's opposition to Edwards' criminal justice policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d433d0f0-99b7-11e8-accd-27e2a6faf8f9.html|title=U. S. Senator Kennedy, Governor Edwards renew dispute on merits of criminal justice overhaul|date=August 8, 2018|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Will Sentell|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref>

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d433d0f0-99b7-11e8-accd-27e2a6faf8f9.html|title=U. S. Senator Kennedy, Governor Edwards renew dispute on merits of criminal justice overhaul|date=August 8, 2018|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Will Sentell|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref> [Sheriff]] [[Steve Prator]] of Caddo Parish similarly disagreed with Edwards' criminal justice reforms, approved in a bipartisan fashion by th3e legislature. As the disagreement with Prator escalated, Edwards stopped the pending appointment of Mrs. Prator to a seat on the Red River Waterway board of commissioners formerly held by the late [[Rogers M. Prestridge]] of Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/2018/08/16/gov-edwards-plays-politics-denies-caddo-waterway-commission-seat/1008148002/|title=Gov. Edwards plays politics to deny Caddo Parish a waterway commission seat|author=John E. Settle, Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 16, 2018|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref> Kennedy has strongly defended Prator in the dispute with Edwards. Kennedy said that he believes Edwards rejected Carolyn Prator's appointment because of the sheriff's earlier criticism of the governor's justice reforms. Kennedy cited the [African-American]] Democratic state Senator Gregory Tarver of Shreveport, who was quoted in ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'' as having said that Edwards told him he blocked the nomination of Carolyn Prator because of Sheriff Prator's opposition to the justice reforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2018/09/13/kennedy-accuses-edwards-vendetta-against-caddo-sheriff/1291981002/|title=Kennedy accuses Edwards of vendetta against Caddo sheriff