Changes

In the spring of 2020, Edwards gained repeated national television exposure regarding how hard Louisiana has been hit in the [[coronavirus]] pandemic, particularly New Orleans during [[Mardi Gras]]. Edwards issued a "stay-at-home" order, including churches, but he exempted [[abortion]] clinics from the order though he has long-claimed a "pro-life" position. When he ran for governor in 2015, he cut an advertisement explaining that he and his wife, Donna, had not aborted a child diagnosed as special-needs while still in the womb. He also signed in his first term an anti-abortion bill since held in abeyance by federal courts. The legislation had large bipartisan majorities in both houses of the legislature. With national aspirations presumably in his future, Edwards would be required to abandon any pretense of being opposed to abortion. Louisiana voters are mostly anti-abortion, but 51 percent in 2019 voted to give Edwards a second term. Edwards' comments on how the pandemic has impacted Louisiana motorists led [[Texas]] Governor [[Greg Abbott]] to halt Louisiana motorists from entering Texas.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' April 6, 2020.</ref> Griffon calls the governor "St. Bel" because of what Griffon sees as the governor's sanctimonious political stances.

In the spring of 2020, Edwards gained repeated national television exposure regarding how hard Louisiana has been hit in the [[coronavirus]] pandemic, particularly New Orleans during [[Mardi Gras]]. Edwards issued a "stay-at-home" order, including churches, but he exempted [[abortion]] clinics from the order though he has long-claimed a "pro-life" position. When he ran for governor in 2015, he cut an advertisement explaining that he and his wife, Donna, had not aborted a child diagnosed as special-needs while still in the womb. He also signed in his first term an anti-abortion bill since held in abeyance by federal courts. The legislation had large bipartisan majorities in both houses of the legislature. With national aspirations presumably in his future, Edwards would be required to abandon any pretense of being opposed to abortion. Louisiana voters are mostly anti-abortion, but 51 percent in 2019 voted to give Edwards a second term. Edwards' comments on how the pandemic has impacted Louisiana motorists led [[Texas]] Governor [[Greg Abbott]] to halt Louisiana motorists from entering Texas.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' April 6, 2020.</ref> Griffon calls the governor "St. Bel" because of what Griffon sees as the governor's sanctimonious political stances.

In March 2022, Edwards vetoed the congressional [[redistricting]] bill because it maintains only one district with a majority of voters being African-American, a heavily Democrat constituency in Louisiana. Edwards instruced the lawmakers to shift boundaries so as to create as second African-American distict. Lawmakers will need a two-third vote in both chambers to override the veto, a hurdle likely to high to succeed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/louisiana-governor-vetoes-new-congressional-map/ar-AAURf73?ocid=msedgntp|title=Louisiana governor vetoes new congressional map|publisher=msn.com|date=March 9, 2022|accessdate=March 10, 2022}}</ref>

In March 2022, Edwards vetoed the congressional [[redistricting]] bill because it maintains only one district with a majority of voters being African-American, a heavily Democrat constituency in Louisiana. Edwards instruced the lawmakers to shift boundaries so as to create as second African-American distict. Lawmakers will need a two-third vote in both chambers to override the veto, a hurdle likely to high to succeed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/louisiana-governor-vetoes-new-congressional-map/ar-AAURf73?ocid=msedgntp|title=Louisiana governor vetoes new congressional map|publisher=msn.com|date=March 9, 2022|accessdate=March 10, 2022}}</ref>