Since Huey Long, governors had traditionally handpicked the state house speakers. Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

Six other Republican statewide elected officials also were sworn in for new terms: Lt. Gov. John Bel Edwards was born to Dora Jean and Frank M Edwards Jr who was a sheriff in Tangipahoa Parish on September 16, 1966, in Amite Louisiana. [29][30] In May, 2019, he signed an even more restrictive "fetal heartbeat" bill although a similar bill in the 5th Circuit, one with a similar predecessor, was blocked by Judge Carlton Reeves, in the Southern District of Mississippi. He continued his statement by referencing his attempts to expand investment in education, reform Louisiana's criminal justice system, pass laws that would protect LGBT citizens from discrimination in the workplace, raise the minimum wage, and ensure equal pay between men and women. Meanwhile, the Republican Governors Association entered the Louisiana campaign in support of Vitter with an advertisement highlighting Edwards' past support for President Barack Obama, who twice lost Louisiana's electoral votes. What Does Your TAG Heuer Serial Number Mean? Edwards' father, Frank Edwards Jr., became Tangipahoa Sheriff in 1968 and was defeated during an election seeking his fourth term in 1980. What the Baton Rouge multimillionaire, who created a business in his living room now has annual revenues of close $400 million, does say, repeatedly, is that he is an acolyte of President Donald Trump. A statewide poll prior to the primary showed Edwards with a nine-point lead over Vitter. He also suspended the budgetary dedications that allowed special interests to carve out a bit of the state’s revenues for their use and thereby reduce the flexibility lawmakers have in drafting an annual budget. Eddie Rispone (left) and John Bel Edwards (right). He defeated Republican U.S. While still a member of the House of Representatives, Edwards became known for his outward criticism of the then governor of Louisiana, governor Bobby Jindal.

Then there was Buddy Roemer, who as a wunderkind congressman from Bossier Parish called his 1987 campaign the “Roemer Revolution.” He narrowly edged the incumbent, Edwin W. Edwards.

But Edwards will be negotiating for boosted spending with a more conservative Legislature, reconfigured by term limits and with lawmakers who ran on cutting taxes and curbing government.

Edwards' mother, Dora Jean Edwards, was born Dora Jean Miller. Throughout his tenure as governor of the state of Louisiana, he has been the epitome of change as he has done his best to lower the unemployment rate. The order prohibits state agencies from discrimination based on either gender identity or sexual orientation. [9] Edwards was the only freshman lawmaker to chair a committee in the legislature. This is his second tournament win. We rejected the notion that people from different parties can’t work together in good faith,” Edwards said. However, according to The News Star, this eventually led to the first case of COVID 19 being reported in the state. Learn how your comment data is processed. Edwards became a critic of Governor Bobby Jindal for the governor's frequent trips away from Louisiana to raise political funds for Republicans elsewhere while Louisiana had been reducing its funding for higher education. (AP Photo/Brett Duke), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Appearing alone before a Baton Rouge forum Monday, Gov. In 2011, one of Edwards' brothers, Christopher Edwards, died in a car crash after his vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a UPS truck. [24], In January 2017, Edwards traveled to Italy on a personal trip to discuss ways to combat human trafficking. John Bel Edwards (born September 16, 1966) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 56th governor of Louisiana since 2016. Through protracted negotiations, Edwards managed to get agreement from a Republican-majority Legislature on a series of spending cuts, temporary suspensions of about half of the tax breaks, mostly for business, and a temporary increase of less than half a penny in the state sales tax. Edwards served in the Army for eight years, mostly in the 25th Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne Division, including commanding a company in the 82nd's 3rd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. At the time Maginnis was writing about the 1983 race between incumbent Gov. Edwards is a moderate Democrat who strongly believes in government as a beneficent force. John Bel Edwards, others from Louisiana meet Pope Francis in Italy, "This Red State Governor Is Giving Hope To People Sentenced To Die In Prison", "Louisiana reform means early release for 2,000 prisoners; see 4 of their stories", "Democratic Louisiana governor signs 15-week abortion ban", "Louisiana's Dem governor signs nation's most restrictive abortion ban", Anti-abortion stance puts Louisiana Gov. [16] After the primary polls showed Edwards with a commanding lead. John Bel Edwards updates the status of the state in regard to Hurricane Delta recovery efforts and COVID-19 Thursday Oct. 22, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. Celebrating "A Legacy of Sheriff's, "Democratic State Representative John Bel Edwards", "John Bel Edwards Wins Louisiana Gubernatorial Election", "The America Profile: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, the pro-life Catholic Democrat", "George R Tucker: Hammond, LA Lawyer, Lawyer, Attorney, Attorneys", "Louisiana House of Representatives - Internet Portal", "John Bel Edwards announces he is running for governor in 2015", "Republican Dardenne Endorses Democrat Edwards", "Republican governors group weighs in on Louisiana governor's race with ad targeting John Bel Edwards", "Poll: Edwards has nine point lead over Vitter in LA governor's race", "Three polls show John Bel Edwards leading David Vitter in stunning turn of events surrounding governor's race", "John Bel Edwards beats David Vitter to become Louisiana's next governor", "John Bel Edwards doesn't get his pick for House speaker", "Gov. #lalege #lagovpic.twitter.com/SxadrmuUTC", "Gov. History and math don’t bode well for Edwards’ reelection. His great-grandfather was the sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish, starting in 1898. Edwards’ swearing-in ceremony followed a tightly-coordinated script of pageantry laid out through years of inaugurations. Edwards Signs Non-discrimination Executive Order; Rescinds Marriage and Conscience Executive Order | Office of the Governor of Louisiana", "Louisiana Gov. Trump won the state by 20 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election. Louisiana Gov. Trump is an entertaining speaker and his fiery Lake Charles rally, full of name-calling, urged his supporters to go vote. Market Research Insight pollster Verne Kennedy placed Edwards ahead, 54 to 38 percent or 51 to 40 percent, depending on the level of turnout among African-American voters, 25 or 20 percent. John Bel Edwards at odds with much of his Democratic base, Federal judge's questions point toward striking down Mississippi's latest abortion ban, "My statement on the passage of SB 184 following final passage by the Louisiana Legislature. Edwards, the brother of Louisiana Gov.

[27] In 2018, Edwards signed legislation that shortened the sentences for nonviolent, non-sex-crime offenders who showed good behavior while in prison.