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'''John Bel Edwards''' (born September 16, 1966) is the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[governor]] of his native [[Louisiana]], who is  engaged in a current bid for reelection in the November 16, 2019 runoff election.

'''John Bel Edwards''' (born September 16, 1966) is the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[governor]] of his native [[Louisiana]], who won reelection in a runoff contest held on November 16, 2019. By 40,000 votes, he defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] choice, [[Baton Rouge]] [[business]]man [[Eddie Rispone]].

R runoff election.

In the general election held on November 21, 2015, Edwards defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, [[conservative]] [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], 646, 865 (56.1 percent) to 505,933 (43.9 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Statewide.html|title=Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 29, 2015}}</ref> On January 11, 2016, Edwards succeeded the term-limited Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], who had dropped his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

In the general election held on November 21, 2015, Edwards won his first term as governor by defeating Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], 646,865 (56.1 percent) to 505,933 (43.9 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Statewide.html|title=Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 29, 2015}}</ref> On January 11, 2016, Edwards succeeded the term-limited Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], who had dropped his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

A graduate of the [[United States Military Academy]] at [[West Point]], [[New York]] and a [[lawyer]], Edwards was state representative for District 72 in Tangipahoa Parish, one of the Florida Parishes east of [[Baton Rouge]]. He is a long-term supporter and former delegate of [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]] though Edwards proclaims a [[pro-life]] position on [[abortion]]. Vitter failed to make Edwards' connection to Obama and subsequently [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] register with a majority of voters. After his crushing defeat for governor, Vitter announced that he would not seek a third term in the Senate in 2016, and the position went to Republican [[John Neely Kennedy]], the former state treasurer.

A graduate of the [[United States Military Academy]] at [[West Point]], [[New York]] and a [[lawyer]], Edwards was state representative for District 72 in Tangipahoa Parish, one of the Florida Parishes east of [[Baton Rouge]]. He is a long-term supporter and former delegate of [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]] though Edwards proclaims a [[pro-life]] position on [[abortion]]. Vitter failed to make Edwards' connection to Obama and subsequently [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] register with a majority of voters. After his crushing defeat for governor, Vitter announced that he would not seek a third term in the Senate in 2016, and the position went to Republican [[John Neely Kennedy]], the former state treasurer.