WASHINGTON _ Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards failed to garner more than half of votes in Saturday's primary election, forcing him into a run-off with Republican candidate Eddie Rispone.
Edwards won 47% of the vote, while Baton Rouge businessman Rispone had 27%, according to a results portal on the Louisiana secretary of state's website. In third place was Republican Rep. Ralph Abraham, with 24%.
The race saw President Donald Trump swoop in for an 11th-hour rally to fire up Republicans. Because Louisiana has the only Democratic governor in that part of the country, the Republican Party coordinated a big push to ensure Edwards wouldn't get more than 50% of the initial vote, which precipitates a run-off election.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both campaigned there on behalf of Republican candidates, Abraham and Rispone, without endorsing either in this primary. In Trump's Lake Charles rally _ much of it spent attacking Democrat lawmakers and criticizing the efforts to impeach him _ he went after Edwards as an ally to his Democrat enemies.
Edwards, considered a centrist who often sides with conservatives, replaced Bobby Jindal as governor in 2016. The Army veteran and former state legislator easily beat U.S. Sen. David Vitter _ a Republican plagued by scandal _ in a runoff in that election.
The Louisiana contest was another test of Trump's ability to influence local elections. He had already taken credit for helping a Republican win a special election for a North Carolina House seat last month.
