Louisiana's Democratic governor wins re-election

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS, SAYING:

"You know, this administration began with a breeze of hope"

Democratic Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards celebrated his re-election victory on Saturday (November 17), winning a second term in office.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS, SAYING:

"By working together as Louisianans first and foremost, not as Republicans or Democrats, we could make Louisiana the state that we want it to be."

Edwards is the only Democratic governor in the Deep South.

He triumphed over Eddie Rispone, a Republican challenger who enjoyed strong support from U.S. President Donald Trump.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LOUISIANA REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR EDDIE RISPONE, SAYING:

"Can we give President Trump a round of applause?"

The president campaigned hard for Rispone, visiting the state three times to promote the Republican.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"Eddie Rispone, please come up."

And he tweeted three times Saturday, urging voters to go to the polls for Rissone.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS, SAYING:

"And with every step forward, we turned that hope into action, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do in our second term."

Edwards' narrow win, 51%-49% is widely seen as the latest barometer on the value of Trump's endorsement for Republican candidates ahead the 2020 elections.

And it comes on the heels of Kentucky's gubernatorial election, where Democratic challenger Andy Beshear defeated Republican Governor Matt Bevin despite the president's full-throated Bevin endorsement.

Saturday's election was a run-off, forced after no single candidate won a majority in a six-person race last month.