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'''Edwin Washington Edwards''' (born August 7, 1927 – July 12, 2021) was a colorful [[Louisiana]] [[politician]] who served four nonconsecutive terms as the [[governor]] of his state from 1972 to 1980, 1984 to 1988, and 1992 to 1996.

'''Edwin Washington Edwards''' (born August 7, 1927 – July 12, 2021) was a colorful [[Louisiana]] [[politician]] who served four nonconsecutive terms as the [[governor]] of his state from 1972 to 1980, 1984 to 1988, and 1992 to 1996.

In his first election as governor in 1971–1972, Edwards defeated then state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]] in the [[Democratic Party]] runoff election and then [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[David C. Treen]] in the [[general election]]. In 1975, Edwards won a second term in the first of the state's "jungle primary",<ref>Officially termed nonpartisan blanket primary elections, under this procedure all candidates -- regardless of political party -- run in one election; if no single person gets a majority then a runoff is held between the top two vote-getters.</ref> a procedure which he had initiated in a bid to thwart the growth of the Republican Party in his state. Treen won the 1979 election for governor in a crowded field when Edwards could not seek a third consecutive term, but Edwards staged a major comeback in 1983 and handily unseated Treen. In each of his elections, Edwards enjoyed strong support from the [[African-American]] community.

In his first election as governor in 1971–1972, Edwards defeated then state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]] in the [[Democratic Party]] runoff election and then [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[David C. Treen]] in the [[general election]]. In 1975, Edwards won a second term in the first of the state's nonpartisan blanket primaries, also called a "jungle primary,"<ref>Officially termed nonpartisan blanket primary elections, under this procedure all candidates -- regardless of political party -- run in one election; if no single person gets a majority then a runoff is held between the top two vote-getters.</ref> a procedure which he had initiated in a bid to thwart the growth of the Republican Party in his state. Treen won the 1979 election for governor in a crowded field when Edwards could not seek a third consecutive term, but Edwards staged a major comeback in 1983 and handily unseated Treen. In each of his elections, Edwards enjoyed strong support from the [[African-American]] community.

Edwards withdrew from a gubernatorial runoff in 1987, and the leading candidate that year, [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Bossier City]], became governor without a majority of the vote. In 1991, Edwards won his fourth term by defeating then State Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] who ran as a Republican but without state party backing. Duke had edged Roemer out of contention in the 1991 primary election. In the Duke-Edwards contest, even Edwards' old interparty rival, Treen, endorsed Edwards.  

Edwards withdrew from a gubernatorial runoff in 1987, and the leading candidate that year, [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Bossier City]], became governor without a majority of the vote. In 1991, Edwards won his fourth term by defeating then State Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] who ran as a Republican but without state party backing. Duke had edged Roemer out of contention in the 1991 primary election. In the Duke-Edwards contest, even Edwards' old interparty rival, Treen, endorsed Edwards.