Louisiana voters pick between Democratic governor and Trump

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is battling to defy the partisan odds in the ruby-red South and win reelection to a seat that President Donald Trump wants to be returned to Republicans.

Saturday’s election has become a nail-biter, with no clear favorite for victory.

Trump has made the runoff election between the Deep South’s only Democratic governor and GOP businessman Eddie Rispone a test of his own popularity and political prowess.

The president particularly wants to capture Louisiana’s governorship for the GOP after Democrats ousted a Republican incumbent in Kentucky. Trump made three trips to Louisiana to rally against Edwards.

But in targeting Louisiana’s moderate Democratic incumbent, the president is trying to replace a governor who still maintains positive approval ratings.

Polls in Louisiana close at 8 p.m.

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AP reporter Kevin McGill contributed to this report from New Orleans.

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