(The Center Square) – Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry will replace term-limited Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards after winning election outright in a jungle primary Saturday.
Landry won more than 50% of the vote despite running against 15 other candidates.
“Thankful beyond belief,” Landry wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m ready to get to work for Louisiana!”
All candidates regardless of party appear on the same ballot in a jungle primary. If no one had received at least 50% of the vote, a runoff election with the top two vote-getters would have been held in November.
Landry received the endorsement of formter President Donald Trump.
Former Democratic Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson, Republican Treasurer John Schroder, former CEO of Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Stephen Waguespack, Senate Majority Leader Sharon Hewitt, Republican Rep. Richard Nelson, and independent Hunter Lundy, among others, also were on the ballot. Nelson withdrew from the race in September to endorse Landry but remained on the ballot.
Landry, also backed by the state Republican Party, led fundraising and polls throughout the race.
Edwards has been governor for two terms, since 2016, and was term-limited.