Republican Jeff Landry wins Louisiana’s governor election, reclaims office for GOP

Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican backed by former president Donald Trump, has won the Louisiana governor’s race, holding off a crowded field of candidates.

The win is considered as major win for the GOP as they have claimed back the governor’s position after eight years. Landry will replace current Governor John Bel Edwards, who failed to seek reelection due to consecutive term limits. Edwards is the only Democrat gov. in the Deep South.

“Today’s election says that our state is united,” Landry stated during his victory speech. He added that the message from the people is loud and clear that they have been expecting more out of the government from here on out.

Landry managed to bag more than half of the votes, thus avoiding an expected runoff under the state’s “jungle primary” system. He described the elections as “historic” while celebrating his win with supporters in Broussard, Louisiana. This is because the last time there wasn’t a gubernational runoff in Louisiana was in 2011 and 2007, when Bobby Jindal, a Republican, won the state’s top position.