While Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards made the runoff early Saturday night, he did not address the crowd at the Lyceum Ballroom in downtown Baton Rouge until he knew who he would be facing.
Once Edwards found out U.S. Sen. David Vitter would be his opponent, he initiated his month-long battle with the senator, which will play out ahead of the Nov. 21 runoff election.
“David Vitter is gonna try to put the focus on the president and Washington, D.C.,” Edwards said. “If he believes that those are our biggest problems in Louisiana, then he needs to stay in Washington. By the way, I intend to make sure that happens.”
Whoever is elected governor will step into office with a mountain of fiscal problems, including a budget shortfall nearing last year’s $1.6 billion deficit.
Edwards said the issues facing Louisiana, like consistent and deep higher education cuts stemming from fiscal irresponsibility, are the direct result of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s failed policies and has said all his opponents in the primary election represent Jindal’s third term — calling Vitter “Jindal on steroids.”
Edwards easily qualified for Louisiana’s gubernatorial runoff with roughly 40 percent of the vote. As the results poured in, the mob of partygoers, not unlike the soaking fans in Tiger Stadium, roared in support as Edwards delivered his impassioned remarks.
With a grin on his face, Edwards hugged family members and thanked supporters before recognizing fellow candidates Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne — two Republicans who Edwards said he developed a “true affection” for. He said his campaign has room for their voters.
Edwards wasted little time on pleasantries before turning against Vitter, the subject of two recent scandals involving spying and prostitution allegations.
“I live by the honor code: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do,” Edwards said. “And David Vitter wouldn’t last five minutes at West Point.”
Edwards challenged Vitter to “show up,” citing his lack of participation at recent debates and said his opponent hid behind millions of dollars from super PACs funded by out-of-state special interest groups.
While Edwards expected to earn a spot in the runoff, Republican votes were largely split among the three major Republican candidates.
To rally conservative voters, he assured the crowd he would work across party lines if elected — something he said Vitter is unwilling to do. Edwards added that his policy on Medicaid is similar to that of his Republican primary opponents.
Edwards also championed policies such as equal pay for women and an increased minimum wage. He touched on many of the same policy points from his campaign, like halting tuition increases and expanding Medicaid, continuing to tout his priorities for the state.
“I will always tell you the truth, and I will always fight to put Louisiana first,” Edwards said.
Evan Alvarez, 23, said Republicans like Vitter who run on a platform of family values they fail to live up to are a big reason why he resigned his chair on the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans and switched parties.
Alvarez said he left the Republican Party — and gained national attention for doing so — as a student at Mississippi State University because he no longer agreed with the party platform. He said he likes Edwards because the Democratic Party does not come before policy.
He also said he supports Edwards because he is a veteran and promotes family values, while Vitter’s scandals continue to prove the GOP’s hypocrisy.
“I think it goes to show the hypocritical side of that family value campaign, and at the end of the day, people are gonna go for the real family man, and that’s John Bel Edwards,” Alvarez said.

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