1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election

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1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election
Flag of Louisiana (1912-2006).svg
  1983 October 24, 1987 (first round) 1991  
  Buddy Roemer Congress.jpg Edwin Edwards.jpg BobLivingston.jpg
Candidate Buddy Roemer Edwin Edwards Bob Livingston
Party Democratic Democratic Republican
First round516,078
33.11%
437,801
28.09%
287,780
18.46%
RunoffWinner by defaultWithdrewEliminated

  Billy tauzin.jpg
Candidate Billy Tauzin James H. "Jim" Brown
Party Democratic Democratic
First round154,079
9.88%
138,223
8.87%
RunoffEliminatedEliminated

1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election results map by parish.svg
1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election results map by CD.svg
Roemer:     20–30%     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Edwards:     20–30%     30–40%     40–50%
Livingston:     30–40%     40–50%
Tauzin:     20–30%     30–40%     50–60%

Governor before election

Edwin Edwards
Democratic

Elected Governor

Buddy Roemer
Democratic

The 1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held to elect the governor of Louisiana. Three-term incumbent Democratic governor Edwin Edwards lost re-election to a fourth term, defeated by Democratic congressman Buddy Roemer.

Contents

Edwin Edwards defeated Governor Dave Treen in the 1983 election. [1] Edwards was prosecuted as governor by U.S. District Attorney John Volz for selling hospital certificates, but the first trial results in a hung jury before Edwards was acquitted. [2]

Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. On October 24, 1987, Roemer and Edwards took the two highest popular vote counts. As neither took over 50% a runoff was scheduled, but Edwards withdrew, causing the runoff's cancellation.

Primary election

Campaign

The Times-Picayune/The Times-Picayune and other newspapers endorsed Roemer four weeks prior to the primary. He was initially fifth in polling behind Edwards and Livingston, but rose to placing first in the primary. Edwards withdrew from the election prior to the runoff. [1]

Livingston only placed first in three parishes which were all within his congressional district. Republican areas, such as Caddo Parish, instead supported Roemer. [1]

Results

First voting round, October 24

1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes %
Democratic Buddy Roemer 516,07833.11
Democratic Edwin Edwards (incumbent)437,80128.09
Republican Robert "Bob" Livingston 287,78018.46
Democratic Billy Tauzin 154,0799.88
Democratic James H. "Jim" Brown138,2238.87
Democratic Speedy O. Long 18,7381.2
Democratic Earl J. Amedee3,7670.24
Democratic Ken "Cousin Ken" Lewis2,2640.15
Total1,558,730100
Democratic hold

Runoff did not occur due to Edwards withdrawing

References

Works cited

Sources

State of Louisiana. Primary and General Election Returns, 1987.