Monroe is the epicenter of the Governor’s race today as President Donald Trump comes to town to stump for Republican challenger Eddie Rispone and Governor John Bel Edwards will also be in town looking for votes.
Rispone says the President’s trip emphasizes the need to turn the state around and it starts with the November 16th runoff election.
The two candidates are not expected to cross paths, but plenty of fireworks will be on display as each will attempt to paint the other as wrong for Louisiana.
Also in attendance tonight, the third-place finisher in the October primary, Congressman Ralph Abraham.
“He’s actually flying down with the President, he’s going to be here to support us. We all want the same thing, we want Louisiana to be number one in the south when it comes to jobs and opportunity,” Rispone said about his one time challenger for the Republican ticket.
“He loves Louisiana and we need Louisiana to support the President as well,” said Rispone. “We have this crazy impeachment stuff going on and we have to something different in Louisiana.”
Governor Edwards is also in Monroe Wednesday as he’ll make a campaign stop at Charles Johnson Children’s Park at 10:30 AM. Edwards plans to discuss that Rispone is refusing to detail his plans for Louisiana.
Edwards campaign spokesperson Eric Holl says the Governor’s stop in Monroe highlights a different campaign strategy.
“He’s focused on our state, not on D.C. unlike the people in Washington D.C. we can still work together here, everything the governor has accomplished this term has been bipartisan,” said Holl.
Holl says President Trump and Governor Edwards have a great working relationship and he expects that to resume after the election.
“The governor has been to the White House nine times to visit with the President to discuss some important issues like infrastructure, the opioid epidemic, and criminal justice reform,” said Holl.
The election is November 16th.