Incumbent Democratic governor John Bel Edwards won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican businessman Eddie Rispone.

This move was said to be orchestrated by House Republican chairman Lance Harris, who was considered a potential gubernatorial 2019 candidate and was a frequent Edwards critic.

Attorney General Jeff Landry was perhaps Edwards' most prominent detractor, filing multiple lawsuits against the governor and frequently criticizing him in the media.

The two disagreed the most on social policies, such as Landry's staunch opposition to Edwards' executive order providing protections for LGBT workers of state government and contractors.

"[10] Aware of their gubernatorial ambitions, Edwards and his aides repeatedly spoofed both U.S. senator John Neely Kennedy and Landry during their traditional response skits at Baton Rouge's Gridiron Show.

with Ralph Abraham with John Kennedy with Jeff Landry with Steve Scalise with Generic Opponent Despite losing the state, Rispone won 5 of the 6 congressional districts.