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'''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]].

'''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]].

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.

==Background==

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 an [[attorney]], 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 for former [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]] and the party's 2016 nominee, [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]], though Edwards proclaims a [[pro-life]] position on [[abortion]]. Vitter failed to make Edwards' connection to Obama and the Clintons register with a majority of voters. After his crushing defeat for governor, [[U.S. Senator]] [[David 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.

Edwards named term-limited Democratic state Senator Ben Nevers of Bogalusa as his chief of staff. Laura Leach of Lake Charles, wealthy wife of former U.S. Representative Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, and [[African-American]] [[Mayor]] Jamie Mayo of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] joined his transition team.  

In the general election held on November 21, 2015, Edwards won his first term as governor by defeating 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 Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], who had dropped his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Governor Edwards has pushed for various tax increases in an effort to close a large state operating deficit. One of his press spokespersons is [[Jim Beam]] of ''The Lake Charles American Press'', who has argued for the need of greater state revenues. The push for taxes has brought the governor in repeated conflict with state House Speaker [[Taylor Barras]] of New Iberia.

As governor-elect, Edwards named term-limited Democratic state Senator Ben Nevers of Bogalusa as his chief of staff. Laura Leach of Lake Charles, wealthy wife of former U.S. Representative Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, and [[African-American]] [[Mayor]] Jamie Mayo of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] joined his transition team.  

In June 2018, Senator John Kennedy called upon Governor John Bel Edwards to step down from his position and turn the office over to Lieutenant Governor [[Billy Nungesser]], a Republican. Kennedy is critical of Edwards' repeated calling of special legislative sessions to obtain more tax increases to close a state budget deficit. Kennedy maintains spending must first be reduced before higher taxes should be considered. Edwards' office called Kennedy's demand "absurd." At issue is the yet unapproved renewal of a "temporary" one-cent state [[sales tax]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_a5197e72-6e5c-11e8-a322-fff7ebf6289f.html|title=Sen. John Kennedy: John Bel Edwards should resign; governor's office says that's 'absurd' |publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|author=Elizabeth Crisp|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Kennedy's opposition to Edwards drew the scrutiny of the [[liberal]] ''Baton Rouge Advocate'' newspaper, which claimed the U.S. senator is using his office as "a platform for politically absurd suggestions" and should instead "focus on what is really important to those that elected him. The U.S. Senate, Kennedy's ostensible workplace, hasn't exactly been a model of accomplishment lately. If the senator is worried about the lack of political leadership these days, he should start by looking into the mirror."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_86570780-6e7e-11e8-b7ff-23a402c6376d.html|title=Our Views: John Kennedy worried about lack of leadership? He should look into the mirror (commentary)|publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref>

Governor Edwards pushed for various tax increases in an effort to close a large state operating deficit. One of his press spokespersons is [[Jim Beam]] of [[Lake Charles]], who has argued for the need of greater state revenues. The push for taxes has brought the governor in repeated conflict with outgoing Republican House Speaker [[Taylor Barras]] of New Iberia, but Barras is expected to be succeeded in 2020 as Speaker by Republican [[Sherman Mack]].

Ultimately after seven special sessions since 2016, enough Republican members of the House, such as [[Rob Shadoin]] of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] and [[Frank A. 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 Moderate Republican [[Rob Shadoin]] of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], who left the legislature to join the Edwards administration, and the more [[conservative]] [[Frank A. Hoffmann]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], term-limited in 2020, 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. Alario is expected to be succeeded as Senate Presdent in 2020 by the Republican [[Page Cortez]] of [[Lafayette]]. Governor Edwards also obtained 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 (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. Also on the statewide ballot on November 16, 2019, is the race for secretary of state between Republican incumbent [[Kyle Ardoin]] and his second-time Democrat opponent, Gwen Collins-Greenup, a court administrator from Clinton in East Feliciana Parish.

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. Also on the statewide ballot on November 16, 2019, is the race for secretary of state between Republican incumbent [[Kyle Ardoin]] and his second-time Democrat opponent, Gwen Collins-Greenup, a court administrator from Clinton in East Feliciana Parish.