Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder considers governor's race

Republican Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder of Gonzales said he is considering entering the governor's race if GOP Congressman Garret Graves opts out of the race.

"We're taking a look at it," Schexnayder said in an interview with USA Today Network. "A lot depends on what Garret Graves does."

The Republican field already includes state Sen. Sharon Hewitt of Slidell, Attorney General Jeff Landry, state Rep. Richard Nelson of Mandeville and Treasurer John Schroder. Independent Hunter Lundy of Lake Charles has also announced.

Two-term incumbent Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards is term-limited and can't run again. Edwards' Secretary of Transportation Shawn Wilson, also a Democrat, is expected to officially announce his candidacy in March.

Schexnayder said he believes voters crave a Republican with practical solutions to the state's challenges. Landry, the leader out of the gate in every poll and in fundraising, is considered popular, but polarizing.

"I think there's a large group of voters out there who are unrepresented in the current field," said Schexnayder, who is term-limited in the House.

Graves told USA Today Network last week he feels "extraordinary pressure" to run and will make his decision soon.

"All of the polls shared with us show that no candidate has a majority of Republican support," he said. "It's pretty clear that there does appear to be an appetite for another candidate."

Qualifying for the Oct. 14 primary election is Aug. 8-10.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder considering governor's race