The Women’s Vote – White Women versus Black Women

By Jeff Thomas

Not only is John Bel Edwards the only Democrat who holds a statewide office, but the Louisiana governor is the only Democratic governor of any Southern state. And currently, this rarest of birds is forced into a dramatic runoff.  In his first race, Edwards was able to defeat an extremely flawed opponent to capture the office. But his bid for a second term is a decidedly different race with a new and more volatile set of dynamics to be negotiated.  Though Edwards is a conservative Democrat, Eddie Rispone is far to his right and poses a real threat to his chances to be reelected.

Edwards is unique in the South

Being the only Democrat governor in the South shows how partisan the South has become. As a result, his chances for reelection may be diminished. Louisiana has been less partisan than most other Southern states, but President Trump intends to change that. How Edwards is able to motivate progressive voters while simultaneously leaning into his conservative values is a balancing act that will be Cirque du Soleil worthy. 

Facing a wealthy conservative, Edwards strategy is to link his opponent, Eddie Rispone, to the failed tenure of former governor Bobby Jindal. But the primary Edwards’ campaign leaned right with commercials touting his personal military background and his family’s dedication to law and order.  And signing the anti-abortion legislation this summer was a major nod to Republican voters.  Yet Rispone is claiming to be the second coming of President Trump and has inserted immigration, race, taxes and every other hot button issue to invigorate Louisiana’s conservative electorate. However, Edwards right leaning is turning off just enough African Americans to bolster Rispone.

Trump’s presence helped force Edwards into a runoff

White Women Voters

 Many of the white women voters who either did not vote or even supported Edwards over the sex scandal ridden David Vitter, will have no such inclination in this election.  In fact, Rispone captured a sizable share of the white women’s vote in the primary.  Both are furiously campaigning to capture the white women’s votes. However, partisanship could easily displace issues in this race. As a result, a huge block of the white women’s vote will go to Rispone. Edwards will have no choice but to try to motivate African American women voters. And that’s the tricky part.

African American Women Voters

Will Young Black Women vote in the runoff?

Edwards received over 95% of the African American women’s vote cast in the primary. But his current campaign messaging ignores issues that would engage and motivate them to vote and is part of the reason the governor is forced into a runoff.  And while most older African American women are chronic voters, younger AA women voters are irregular –mainly high-profile election -voters. However, the highly effective attack ad, accusing Edwards of ignoring the sexual misconduct of one of his appointees is crippling this campaign.  Combined with his lean, Edwards is walking a tightrope in the runoff.

Can Edwards Attract Young Black Women?

How Edwards pivots and seeks to attract women of color while simultaneously appeasing some conservative white women is the conundrum.  Issues that women share – early childhood education and access to affordable healthcare – allow the governor to thread the needle, but other issues that will attract and motivate black women like increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and increasing funding for historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s) will turn off white women.

So far, Edwards only strategy is to link Rispone to the extremely unpopular Jindal and seek to show that Rispone attacked the other Republican in the race. That may peel off some voters, but with Trump, Vice President Pence and Don Trump, Jr all scheduled to visit the state, Edwards must motivate swing African American women voters who did not even bother to vote in the primary.

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One thought on “Handicapping the La Governor’s Race – Edwards forced into a runoff”
  1. IS GOD LOOKING AT COLOR OF SKIN TO PROMOTE A POLITICIAN?
    MISTER JEFF, ARE YOU PITTING ISSUES TO CAUSE DIVISION, AND DISCORD ?

    What makes a person able to select a good politician, is not Skin Color, But “brain” power, God wants women who deny this world and its secular hedonistic illusions.
    A politician elected by a color factor could be mob rule and illustrate the absences of tolerance, harmony, diversity, inclusion and the 10 commandments.
    Great Women emulate the Greatness of God and His Son Jesus.
    Great Christian Women obey the MASTERS VOICE and follow Him
    and avoid all the false shepherds of satan who deceive them to follow this worlds plethora of evil sinful people and cultures,
    Great Women shall have No other Gods or Idols in their thoughts or heart or actions.
    Great Women love thy neighbor, any color neighbor, and if thy neighbor be bad, Share the Gospel with them and pray for their
    minds to repent and be renewed and turn to follow the King of all Kings in these final days of growing evils on the Globe.
    The gospel of God, Unites us to one master and one king and one leader and one vision that gives us all eternal hope.
    Lets all Aspire to do God plans, before we expire and find out
    that we have a ticket to the wrong destination.
    Bishop
    2019 August 07

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