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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name= John Bel Edwards
|name= John Bel Edwards
|office=56th [[Governor]] of [[Louisiana]]
|office=56th [[Governor]] of [[Louisiana]]
|term_start= January 11, 2016
|term_start= January 11, 2016
|term_start2=January 9, 2012
|term_start2=January 9, 2012
|term_end2=December 10, 2015
|term_end2=December 10, 2015
|predecessor2=Jane Holland Smith
|predecessor2=[[Jane Holland Smith]]
|successor2=[[Gene Reynolds|Harlie Eugene "Gene" Reynolds, Jr.]]
|successor2=[[Gene Reynolds|Harlie Eugene "Gene" Reynolds, Jr.]]
|office3=Louisiana State Representative for District 72 (Tangipahoa Parish)
|office3=Louisiana State Representative for District 72 (Tangipahoa Parish)
==Background==
==Background==
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.
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]]. His runoff opponent in 2015, then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]], failed to make Edwards' connection to Obama and the Clintons register with a majority of voters.
==Gubernatorial matters==
==Gubernatorial matters==
After Edwards handily defeated him 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.
After Edwards handily defeated him 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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]].
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]].