In a major show of strength in a deep-red state, Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has defeated his Republican challenger, Eddie Rispone, whose frequent attempts to nationalize the election by bringing in President Donald Trump proved futile in Saturday’s gubernatorial election. BREAKING: Louisiana’s John Bel Edwards stuns GOP, wins reelection to a second term as the Deep South’s only Democratic governor. — The Associated Press (@AP) November 17, 2019 Edwards, who has served as governor since 2016, would be the first person to admit that he doesn’t fit the national Democratic mold.