Changes

Ultimately after seven special sessions since 2016, enough Republican members of the House, such as [[Rob Shadoin]] of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] and Frank Hoffmann of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], capitulated to approve a .45 percent of the expiring one-cent sales tax. When rounded, the .45 becomes the same .5 percent presented as Edwards' final offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_8424e9a0-7630-11e8-9da8-67b9c39c5df5.html|title=Deal brokered: Louisiana House advances sales tax bill; here are next steps|author=Elizabeth Crisp|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 22, 2018|accessdate=June 23, 2018}}</ref> The measure heads for certain passage in the state Senate, which though nominally Republican is run by [[Moderate Republican]] and former long-term Democrat [[John Alario]], the Senate president who has long advocated for tax increases as well. Edwards will also get additional energy revenues in 2019 and funds from the taxation of goods and services sold on-line, as permitted through a [[United States Supreme Court]] ruling.

Ultimately after seven special sessions since 2016, enough Republican members of the House, such as [[Rob Shadoin]] of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] and Frank Hoffmann of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], capitulated to approve a .45 percent of the expiring one-cent sales tax. When rounded, the .45 becomes the same .5 percent presented as Edwards' final offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_8424e9a0-7630-11e8-9da8-67b9c39c5df5.html|title=Deal brokered: Louisiana House advances sales tax bill; here are next steps|author=Elizabeth Crisp|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 22, 2018|accessdate=June 23, 2018}}</ref> The measure heads for certain passage in the state Senate, which though nominally Republican is run by [[Moderate Republican]] and former long-term Democrat [[John Alario]], the Senate president who has long advocated for tax increases as well. Edwards will also get additional energy revenues in 2019 and funds from the taxation of goods and services sold on-line, as permitted through a [[United States Supreme Court]] ruling.

Two Republicans, Baton Rouge [[business]]man [[Eddie Rispone]] and [[U.S. Representative]] [[Ralph Abraham]] of Louisiana's 5th congressional district challenged Edwards in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 12, 2019. Rispone edged out Abraham by just over 50,000 votes and will face Edwards in the showdown. Edwards polled exactly 626,000 votes in the 2019 primary,<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, Octobr 12, 2019.</ref> some 20,000 fewer votes than he had received is 2015 runoff contest with Vitter.

Two Republicans, Baton Rouge [[business]]man [[Eddie Rispone]] and [[U.S. Representative]] [[Ralph Abraham]] of Louisiana's 5th congressional district challenged Edwards in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 12, 2019. Rispone edged out Abraham by just over 50,000 votes and will face Edwards in the showdown. Edwards polled exactly 626,000 votes (46.6 percent) in the 2019 primary,<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019.</ref> some 20,000 fewer votes than he had received is 2015 runoff contest with Vitter.

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