John Bel Edwards

John Bel Edwards
Edwards in 2021
56th Governor of Louisiana
In office
January 11, 2016 – January 8, 2024
LieutenantBilly Nungesser
Preceded byBobby Jindal
Succeeded byJeff Landry
Minority Leader of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office
January 10, 2012 – December 10, 2015
Preceded byJane Smith
Succeeded byGene Reynolds
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
In office
January 14, 2008 – December 10, 2015
Preceded byRobby Carter
Succeeded byRobby Carter
Personal details
Born (1966-09-16) September 16, 1966 (age 57)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Donna Hutto
(m. 1989)
Children3
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
Louisiana State University (JD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1988–1996
RankCaptain
Unit25th Infantry Division
82nd Airborne Division

John Bel Edwards (born September 16, 1966) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 56th governor of Louisiana from 2016 to 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the Democratic leader of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2012 to 2015.

First elected to the Louisiana House in 2007, Edwards became Democratic minority leader in 2012. He defeated Republican U.S. Senator David Vitter in the second round of the 2015 gubernatorial election, and became Louisiana governor in January 2016. He won a second term in 2019, becoming the first Democrat to win reelection as governor of Louisiana since Edwin Edwards (no relation) in 1975.[1] He is a United States Army veteran, having served with the 82nd Airborne Division, reaching the rank of captain. He is the most recent Democrat elected to a statewide office in Louisiana.[2] Some political observers consider Edwards a conservative Democrat.[3][4]

After leaving office, Edwards joined the New Orleans-based law firm Fishman Haygood LLP, where his practice focuses primarily on renewable energy litigation.[5]

  1. ^ "John Bel Edwards earned a remarkable win for reelection; here's how he did it". November 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Ryan, Molly (December 22, 2023). "Louisiana Democrats ruled the state 3 decades ago. What caused the political shift?". WWNO. 89.3 WRKF Baton Rouge. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Tenbarge, Ken (November 17, 2019). "John Bel Edwards was narrowly re-elected as governor of Louisiana. He's not a typical Democrat". Business Insider. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  4. ^ O'Donoghue, Julie (December 14, 2023). "Gov. John Bel Edwards: 'I have never been less inclined to be a Republican than today'". States Newsroom. Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  5. ^ Cline, Sara (January 14, 2024). "Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards will join law firm after leaving office". Associated Press. Retrieved March 17, 2024.

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