Analysis by Harry Enten, CNN
Updated 10:44 AM ET, Sun November 17, 2019
(CNN) For the second time this month, Republican President Donald Trump failed to carry a Republican gubernatorial candidate across the finish line in a deep-red state. Last time, Kentucky was the stage. This time it was Louisiana.
Gov. John Bel Edwards defeated Republican Eddie Rispone 51% to 49% in Saturday’s runoff election. This came after Edwards failed to reach a majority in an election last month, in which the Republican candidates combined actually beat the Democrats combined by a 52% to 47% margin.
The Democrat’s victory Saturday is another demonstration of the limits of Trump’s appeal and the importance of candidate quality even in our deeply polarized age.
Make no mistake: Louisiana is a deeply red state. Trump won it by 20 points in 2016. Currently, the President’s approval rating percentage in the state is in the 50s. His last minute visit to Louisiana last week wasn’t enough just as it wasn’t enough in Kentucky on the eve of that election.
Continued
PolarParty
Article URL : https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/17/politics/john-bel-edwards-louisiana-governor-republicans-election/index.html