Spending on Louisiana Governor’s Race Reaches $73 million

The 2019 Louisiana governor's race that saw Democrat John Bel Edwards win reelection to a second term was the most expensive gubernatorial competition in state history.

Candidates, their allies and their foes spent about $73 million.

The three major candidates alone — Edwards, Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and GOP businessman Eddie Rispone — spent about $47 million. Major political action committees accounted for the rest of the dollars.

By comparison, roughly $50 million was spent in the 2015 competition for governor that saw Edwards first elected to the state's top job, a race that featured four major candidates and PACs.