Rumors have been swirling for months that Louisiana Sen. David Vitter (R) was seriously considering a gubernatorial run. On Tuesday, the two-term senator made it official and announced his intention to seek the state’s top post.
With Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) term-limited and ineligible to seek a third term, the time may be right for Vitter. In a November 2013 poll from Southern Media & Opinion Research, Louisiana residents had a 60 percent approval rating of the senator.
Like California and Washington, Louisiana has a jungle primary in which all candidates are featured on the same ballot regardless of political party. As of now, Vitter’s competition is Minority Leader of the state House of Representatives John Bel Edwards (D), Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell (D) and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne (R). Other candidates may enter the race as well.
If Vitter wants to avoid a run-off election, he must receive 50 percent plus one vote. In the event that he or any candidate falls short of this goal, the top two finishers will advance to a run-off election.
Should the senator win, he would need to resign his U.S. Senate seat for which he, as governor, would appoint a successor to serve the remainder of his term, which runs through 2016.
For more information, please contact David Ashinoff at 202-547-5013 or ashinoffd@agc.org
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