Now that the Louisiana Gov.’s racing field appears to be settled, the pressure will build among Republicans to see if any of them can catch and then overtake top Republican Attorney Jeff Landry.
That’s what it takes to join Democrat Shawn Wilson, former Secretary of Transportation for Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, in advancing to a two-person runoff.
After Wilson rallied support from Democrats, veteran pollster John Couvillon said he was a virtual lockout emerging from the Oct. 14 primary and entering the runoff.
Louisiana State Capitol, Spring 2022.
Landry leads Republicans with a devoted base and deep pockets, but Sen. Sharon Hewitt, Rep. Richard Nelson, Treasurer John Schroder and former Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack all believe Landry is polarizing with a support border , which they can surpass .
They have to prove it with polls and money or their shelf life will expire even before qualifying begins Aug. 8-10, said Jeremy Alford, editor of LaPolitics Weekly.
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“Up until now, the question has been who else is coming in,” Alford said. “The real question and intrigue now is what Republicans will find out. They have a lot of Republicans, and if they stay at the table, some of them will starve.”
Conservative Lake Charles Christian trial attorney Hunter Lundy could be a joker after signaling he’s ready to spend millions of his own money. “The field may be calm, but it’s not peaceful,” Alford said.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared in the Lafayette Daily Advertiser: 60 Second Read: Explaining the Louisiana Governor’s Race Field
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