Qualifying has wrapped up and the field is set for what should be a highly competitive governor’s race as the southeast’s only Democrat defends his seat against two Republicans contenders.
The race has only recently started to pick up intensity, and Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says within the next two weeks expect the election season yard signs and billboards to be in full bloom.
Governor Edwards and Eddie Rispone have already begun their statewide TV ad campaign. Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’ll begin airing his next week.
With no federal races and few other competitive governor’s races nationwide, Louisiana is set to become a major focus for both parties. Pinsonat says expect a flood of out of state money and other assets to sweep in.
Cut 6 (12) “…for Democrats.”

The primary is set for October 12th. The only other race that is likely to crack a million dollars of spending is Insurance Commissioner, where Tim Temple, who is challenging incumbent Jim Donelon, has pledged to self-fund a million-dollar campaign.

The family of a black man shot dead in a motel room by a West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy is requesting a Justice Department investigation of the incident. Attorney for the family of 38-year-old Josef Richardson, Ben Crump, says Richardson, who was unarmed, was killed by a shot to the back of the neck in a motel room near Port Allen as deputies executed a warrant. Crump says the only thing the officers recovered in the incident was about $300 in marijuana and methamphetamine.
Investigators have not released any information on why the deputy fired his weapon, or the identity of the deputy involved.
Crump says the family does not feel confident about the State Police’s investigation of the West Baton Rouge deputy’s behavior.
Cut 12 (10) “…be due process.”
Richardson was in the motel room with his girlfriend, who is facing drug charges.
The president of the National Rifle Association is paying off duty sheriff’s deputies to provide around the clock protection of her home. Carolyn Meadows an east cobb resident now has at least one deputy continuously stationed outside of her home in the wake of two mass shootings leaving dozens dead. East Cobb is about 20 miles north of Atlanta.