Changes

|birth_place=Place of birth missing<br>

|birth_place=Place of birth missing<br>

Resident of [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]

Resident of [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]

|spouse=(1) Phyllis Rispone (died of [[cancer]])<br>

|spouse=(1) Phyllis Rispone (died of [[cancer]])<br>

(2) Linda Lemoine Rispone<br>

(2) Linda Lemoine Rispone<br>

Children:<br>

Children:<br>

Seven children of both Eddie and Linda Rispone<ref name=asg/>

Seven children of both Eddie and Linda Rispone<ref name=asg/>

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate in Louisiana, 2019

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate in Louisiana, 2019 (defeated by [[John Bel Edwards]]).

}}

}}

'''Edward Lee Rispone''', known as '''Eddie Rispone''' (pronounced RISPONY) (born January 21, 1949),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/eddie-rispone/e720917170998|title=Eddie Risone|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}</ref> is a [[business]]man from the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]], who is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] choice against [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]], a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], in the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] runoff election set for for November 16, 2019. In the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 12, 2019, he edged out fellow Republican [[U.S. Representative]] [[Ralph Abraham]] of Louisiana's 5th congressional district, a medical doctor from Richland Parish. Edwards polled exactly 626,000 (46.6 percent) in the primary to Rispone's 368,318 (27.4 percent), and Abraham's 317,115 (23.6 percent). Voter turnout was just 45.3 percent.<ref name=primaryreturns>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019.</ref>

'''Edward Lee Rispone''', known as '''Eddie Rispone''' (pronounced RISPONY) (born January 21, 1949),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/eddie-rispone/e720917170998|title=Eddie Risone|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}</ref> is a [[business]]man from the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]], who was the [[Republican Party|Republican]] choice against [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]], a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], in the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] runoff election held on November 16, 2019. With 100 percent of the ballots counted, Edwards led Rispone by 40,341 votes. Edwards polled 774,469 votes (51 percent) to Rispone's 734,128 (49 percent). Only 50.7 percent of registered voters came to the polls, a smaller turnout than what Republicans needed from their base.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 2019.</ref> Moreover, it was a particular disheartening loss for state Republicans in that [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]] had campaigned three times for the Republican candidates, including a final November 14 rally in [[Bossier City]], which drew a large crowd.

 

In the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 12, 2019, Rispone edged out fellow Republican [[U.S. Representative]] [[Ralph Abraham]] of Louisiana's 5th congressional district, a medical doctor from Richland Parish. Edwards polled exactly 626,000 (46.6 percent) in the primary to Rispone's 368,318 (27.4 percent), and Abraham's 317,115 (23.6 percent). Voter turnout was just 45.3 percent.<ref name=primaryreturns>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019.</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

In 2014, Rispone was a prime mover behind the failed effort to incorporate the St. George community in East Baton Rouge Parish.<ref name=breport/> The incorporation, however, was approved five years later in the same election in which Rispone was placed in a runoff with Edwards. Supporters ofr incorporation polled 17,422 votes (54 percent) to 14,871 (46 percent).<ref name=primaryreturns/>

In 2014, Rispone was a prime mover behind the failed effort to incorporate the St. George community in East Baton Rouge Parish.<ref name=breport/> The incorporation, however, was approved five years later in the same election in which Rispone was placed in a runoff with Edwards. Supporters ofr incorporation polled 17,422 votes (54 percent) to 14,871 (46 percent).<ref name=primaryreturns/>

Republican state Senator Sharon Hewitt of Slidell in St. Tammany Parish had indicated that she too was considering a gubernatorial campaign but chose to run instead for reelection to the state Senate and potentially to seek to succeed [[Moderate Republican]] [[John Alario]] as the state Senate President. Hewitt vowed support for either Rispone or Abraham in the primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/04/11/breaking-sen-hewitt-wont-run-governor/3438834002/|title=Sen. Hewitt won't run for Louisiana governor 'for now'|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=April 11, 2019|accessdate=April 12, 2019}}</ref>

Republican state Senator Sharon Woodall Hewitt of Slidell in St. Tammany Parish had indicated that she too was considering a gubernatorial campaign but chose to run instead for reelection to the state Senate and potentially to seek to succeed [[Moderate Republican]] [[John Alario]] as the state Senate President. Hewitt vowed support for either Rispone or Abraham in the primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/04/11/breaking-sen-hewitt-wont-run-governor/3438834002/|title=Sen. Hewitt won't run for Louisiana governor 'for now'|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=April 11, 2019|accessdate=April 12, 2019}}</ref>

Rispone said that he was prepared to spend at least $5 million, possibly $8 million, from his personal fortune to make the gubernatorial race. Though he lacks broad name recognition statewide, Rispone can take comfort that several previous governors, including [[John J. McKeithen]], [[Buddy Roemer]], [[Mike Foster]], and even John Bel Edwards, entered their races in 1963, 1995, 1987, and 2015, respectively, without early name recognition. He could use the slogan, "Eddie Is Ready", which was formerly employed by Eddie Sapir, a [[New Orleans]] judge and city council member.<ref name=buzz>{{cite web|url=https://www.bayoubuzz.com/bb/state-of-louisiana/louisiana-elections/item/1063684-eddie-rispone-s-ready-for-governor-are-louisiana-voters|title=Eddie Rispone's Ready for Governor, are Louisiana voters?|publisher=Bayoubuzz.com|author=Stephen Sabludowsky|date=December 5, 2018|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}</ref> Journalist Stephen Sabludowsky wrote in analysis:

Rispone said that he was prepared to spend at least $5 million, possibly $8 million, from his personal fortune to make the gubernatorial race. Though he lacks broad name recognition statewide, Rispone can take comfort that several previous governors, including [[John J. McKeithen]], [[Buddy Roemer]], [[Mike Foster]], and even John Bel Edwards, entered their races in 1963, 1995, 1987, and 2015, respectively, without early name recognition. He could use the slogan, "Eddie Is Ready", which was formerly employed by Eddie Sapir, a [[New Orleans]] judge and city council member.<ref name=buzz>{{cite web|url=https://www.bayoubuzz.com/bb/state-of-louisiana/louisiana-elections/item/1063684-eddie-rispone-s-ready-for-governor-are-louisiana-voters|title=Eddie Rispone's Ready for Governor, are Louisiana voters?|publisher=Bayoubuzz.com|author=Stephen Sabludowsky|date=December 5, 2018|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}</ref> Journalist Stephen Sabludowsky wrote in analysis:

In mid-September, Rispone launched a controversial ad in which he accused primary opponent Ralph Abraham of congressional disloyalty to [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]. Moon Griffon voiced immediate opposition to the Rispone advertising and endorsed Abraham as his preference for governor. Griffon said that Abraham supporters dissuade by Rispone's ad could well support the Democrat John Bel Edwards.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' September 17, 2019.</ref>

In mid-September, Rispone launched a controversial ad in which he accused primary opponent Ralph Abraham of congressional disloyalty to [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]. Moon Griffon voiced immediate opposition to the Rispone advertising and endorsed Abraham as his preference for governor. Griffon said that Abraham supporters dissuade by Rispone's ad could well support the Democrat John Bel Edwards.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' September 17, 2019.</ref>

On the eve of the primary, President Trump held a rally in Lake Charles to implore Louisiana Republicans to show up at the polls on October 12. Trump did not specifically endorse a candidate, but he said either Abraham or Rispone would be acceptable. Trump promised Rispone that he will return twice to Louisiana prior to the runoff election to advance Rispone's chances against John Bel Edwards.

On the eve of the primary, President Trump held a rally in [[Lake Charles]] to implore Louisiana Republicans to show up at the polls on October 12. Trump did not specifically endorse a candidate, but he said either Abraham or Rispone would be acceptable. Trump then campaigned twice for Rispone in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] and [[Bossier City]] prior to the runoff contest.

 

In addition to the Edwards-Rispone gubernatorial contest, there was a second statewide runoff for Louisiana Secretary of State. Republican incumbent [[Kyle Ardoin]] handily defeated a former opponent, Gwen Collins-Greenup, a Democrat from East Feliciana Parish.

 

A month after his defeat, Rispone told Tyler Bridges, reporter for ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' that he was "very disappointed at the opportunity we missed. I’ve gotten over it. I’ve moved on. I’m trying to think about what I can do for our future for our state – workforce development and education.”<ref name=tbridges>{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/article_c37c2098-1dd5-11ea-8273-a399002f5c82.html|title=Eddie Rispone opens up on Louisiana governor's race loss, return to normalcy: 'I've gotten over it'|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Tyler Bridges|date=December 14, 2019|accessdate=December 17, 2019}}</ref>

Rispone criticized Edwards for backing trial lawyers in demanding that coastal parishes file suit against oil and gas companies. Rispone also noted that Edwards had reduced a tax break program for heavy industry, including petrochemical projects.<ref name=tbridges/>

In the pending Edwards-Rispone gubernatorial contest will be a second statewide runoff for Louisiana Secretary of State. Republican incumbent [[Kyle Ardoin]] faces former opponent, Gwen Collins-Greenup, a Democrat from East Feliciana Parish.

Rispone said that his doubts about Ralph Abraham as a rival Republican candidate nominee were fueled by Abraham's audition for support of the Republican donor Lane Grigsby of Baton Rouge. Rispone said that in the interview the two had with Grigsby that Abraham "didn’t know the state” and “fumbled around” answering questions. Grigsby finally told Abraham that he would not support him.<ref name=tbridges/> Moon Griffon said that he believes that Rispone's defeat occurred because of disaffected Abraham voters who were aghast at pre-primary advertising which cast Abraham in a false and unflattering depiction.<ref name=tbridges/>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Moderate Republicans]]

[[Category:Pro-Life]]

[[Category:Pro-Life]]