Jeremy Alford: Jockeying Underway for LA Governor’s Race

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At this point during the last open gubernatorial cycle, in the summer of 2013, then-Rep. John Bel Edwards was preparing to take his long shot bid for governor from zero to 60 in the following months. He already had parts of his team in place and was planning to hold strategy meetings in July and begin polling in earnest shortly thereafter.

Good planning, of course, led to positive results as Edwards became the only Democratic governor in the Deep South two years later. He ran a multi-year campaign and created a template that both Republicans and Democrats can follow in the next open cycle in 2023.

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Some in the potential 2023 field are already making some unmissable moves. Last week, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser appealed to lawmakers and asked for additional money for early childhood education. It’s a strong issue for Nungesser, and one legislative appropriators have been accused of overlooking this session. The approach is noteworthy — Nungesser is becoming more confrontational than usual in staking out policy stances and there’s probably more to come.

Two other potential GOP candidates also locked horns earlier this month in a minor way via Twitter. Attorney General Jeff Landry, from his official office account, tagged Treasurer John Schroder in a post containing some professional advice. Landry wanted Schroder to join the efforts of treasurers in 15 other states where financial institutions are being warned they could lose state business if they bend to federal pressure to “de-carbonize.”

The Twitter nudge could have been overlooked as friendly advice had Schroder not met with family and friends just days prior to kick off the exploratory phase of his potential run for governor.

There will be plenty of Republicans to choose from in the race if it continues to shape up this way. The newest name in the mix belongs to Sen. Rick Ward, who is being encouraged to take a serious look at the race after the regular session is adjourned on June 10.

On the Democratic side, meanwhile, there are only questions marks. As reported in LaPolitics Weekly earlier this year, Sen. Gary Smith is thinking about a bid. Other Democratic names, however, will eventually surface.

There’s also a long list of Republicans who have been approached by supporters about running, but aren’t publicly making moves at this time, including but not limited to Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Chair Bret Allain, Congressman Garret Graves and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain.

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