In a result that would have been unbelievable even two months ago, Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards has defeated GOP Sen. David Vitter in the Louisiana gubernatorial race. With about three-quarters of Election Day votes in and most early votes counted, Edwards leads Vitter 55-45 in a state that Mitt Romney took 58-41. Edwards’ win gives Louisiana Democrats their first statewide victory since 2008, and makes him one of just two Democrats to hold statewide office in the Deep South. Edwards is also the first Democratic governor of Louisiana since Kathleen Blanco retired in 2007.
Vitter started this contest with far more money and name recognition than anyone. But Vitter only narrowly won the Republican nod in last month’s primary after going bitterly negative on his rivals, who in turn revived his seemingly dormant prostitution scandal that first emerged back in 2007. Edwards kept his foot on the gas and pounded Vitter in the runoff.
Edwards ran an instantly classic ad a few weeks ago arguing that Vitter “answered a prostitute's call minutes after he skipped a vote honoring 28 soldiers who gave their lives in defense of our freedom,” thereby choosing “prostitutes over patriots.” Edwards and his allies also tied Vitter to unpopular outgoing Gov. Bobby Jindal. Vitter tried to exploit last week’s terrorist attack in Paris, but it was not enough.
Vitter still has one year left in his Senate term and the option to run again. However, after this humiliating defeat, it’s hard to see him winning major elected office again. Vitter started this year as the governor-in-waiting, and ends it as a cautionary tale that will be recounted for a long time to come.
