Thursday marks exactly two years until the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial primary, and potential candidates are already making plans. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there are two Republicans, Attorney General Jeff Landry, and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, who will likely enter the race to be governor because they’ve talked about it already.
“They may end up not running, but at this point in time we all expect them to run,” said Pinsonat.
Governor John Bel Edwards is term-limited and state law does not allow for him to run for a third consecutive term, so the race is wide open.
Republicans will want someone to reverse some of Governor Edwards’ policies, while Democrats will want a successor to keep them moving forward. Pinsonat says he expects at least a dozen or more hopefuls will qualify in 2023 for the state’s top elected position.
“(State Treasurer) John Schroder saying he’s thinking about it, another statewide elected official, you got state senator from St. Charles Parish, Gary Smith, a Democrat, who is thinking about it,” said Smith.
Pinsonat says another Democrat to watch is Baton Rouge state Rep. Ted James. He also says don’t doubt that one of our congressional delegates in D.C. might want to run.
“Congressman Garret Graves, Congressman Mike Johnson, the number of the candidates could be 10 to 15 people eventually that we will be discussing,” said Pinsonat.
Pinsonat says the two keys to winning the governor’s race in 2023, a lot of cash and statewide name recognition.