(WWL.com)
According to his re-election campaign, Gov. John Bel Edwards raised $3.8 million in 2018 and enters 2019 with $8.3 million in the bank for the race. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says that’s a significant number for the Governor.
“It is a significant number for his opponents who have to think about matching that. It makes it much more likely that he will have the funds he needs to mount the kind of campaign he needs to get reelected.”
Cross says this indicates that any challengers who can’t raise about ten million dollars will not be competitive in the race.
“Rispone apparently has pretty deep pockets, Abraham as the principal Republican front runner will have some resources as well. But this is a very tough and respectable number that the governor has.” A report from the campaign indicates that 87% of the money came from in-state donors. Cross says Edwards will remain on the campaign fundraising trail.
“I would not at all be surprised if at the end of the year the governor had already spent close to 18-20 million dollars for this race.”
One of Edwards’ announced challengers, Eddie Rispone’s gubernatorial campaign says the Baton Rouge Republican has 5.5 million dollars in his campaign account. No word yet from the other Republican challenger Ralph Abraham.