Republican businessman to run for Louisiana governor in 2019

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Eddie Rispone filed state paperwork with the ethics administration office declaring his candidacy for the 2019 election.

"I am definitely running. This is it," Rispone said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Asked why he's opposing Edwards, the first-time candidate said: "I think we can do better. I know we can do better."

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Founder of an industrial contracting company, Rispone is a longtime donor to GOP and conservative campaigns and causes. The wealthy businessman said he plans to invest his own money in what is expected to be an expensive governor's race.

Edwards, seeking his second term in office, reported $5 million in his campaign account earlier this year. Rispone said he's ready to invest a similar amount of his own money in the race and will start fundraising immediately.

"I'm going to put in quite a bit. I've set aside $5 million to get started. We think it's going to cost somewhere between $8 million and $10 million," Rispone said. "I'll start reaching out to my friends around the state raising money."

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