The editorial might have mentioned that the Dem governor in LA was pro-gun and pro-life.
GOP Defeat in the Deep South
Surging Democratic turnout racks up another Trump-era win.
By The Editorial Board
Nov. 17, 2019 6:35 pm ET
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks in Baton Rouge, Nov. 16. PHOTO: MATTHEW HINTON/ASSOCIATED PRESS
As the 2020 election year approaches, Republicans are on a losing streak. The latest defeat came Saturday in Louisiana when Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards held off GOP challenger Eddie Rispone to win re-election despite President Trump’s repeated visits on Mr. Rispone’s behalf.
Incumbents are typically hard to beat in good economic times, though the GOP managed that feat earlier this month in Kentucky. One common feature in both states was enormous voter turnout for an off-year election. Mr. Edwards won with 51% of the vote, or about 40,000 votes, but increased his vote total by 127,609 over 2015. Mr. Rispone gained 228,199 more votes than the GOP candidate in 2015 but still lost.
The difference came in Orleans and East Baton Rouge parishes, where Mr. Edwards rolled up margins of nearly 102,000 and 51,000, respectively. That compares to 69,000 and 42,000 in 2015. This repeats a common pattern since President Trump took office.
Even when GOP candidates exceed turnout expectations, they often lose because Democratic turnout surges too. Louisiana isn’t a national bellwether, but the GOP’s troubles in cities and suburbs even in the deep South signal danger for the party in 2020.
