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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, quick-witted [[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 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.

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 was released from prison in 2011. He soon married his third wife, the former Trina Grimes Scott, who had been his prison pen pal and at the age of thirty-two in 2012 is young enough to be his granddaughter. The couple had a son thereafter and were featured on a short-lived A&E reality show, ''The Governor's Wife'', in 2013.

Edwards was released from prison in 2011. He soon married his third wife, the former Trina Grimes Scott, who had been his prison pen pal and at the age of thirty-two in 2012 is young enough to be his granddaughter. The couple had a son thereafter and were featured on a short-lived A&E reality show, ''The Governor's Wife'', in 2013.

Edwards went under [[hospice]] care in July 2021 and died a few days later at the age of ninety-three at his home in Gonzales in Ascension Parish.

Edwards went under [[hospice]] care for respiratory problems in July 2021 and died a few days later at the age of ninety-three at his home in Gonzales in Ascension Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/former-louisiana-gov-edwin-edwards-dead-at-93/ar-AALPwH6|title=Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards dead at 93|publisher=msn.com (WDSU Channel 6 [[NBC]] in [[Baton Rouge])|date=July 12, 2021}}</ref>

==See also==

==See also==