Louisiana’s Republican Party just got thrown a nasty curve ball.
US Sen. John N. Kennedy, fresh from pulling a 62 percent majority in his successful reelection campaign despite the presence of 12 other candidates in the race now says a week after that convincing win that he is considering a run for governor in next year’s election.
Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem for the state GOP; they’d just fall in line and endorse the lead horse and ride him right into the governor’s office.
Except that on the same day that Kenney announced that he is “seriously considering” the race, the state Republican Party officially announced its endorsement for…Attorney General Jeff Landry.
It had already been learned that Landry was getting the formal endorsement, much to the consternation of two other potential Republican candidates – State Treasurer John Schroeder and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, both of whom are also considering a run. Sounds like a rerun of 2015 when Republican candidates ganged up on each other, opening the door for Democrat John Bel Edwards to walk in virtually uncontested for the runoff with eventual Republican winner US Sen. David Vitter.
The announcement by Kennedy almost certainly gave Landry heartburn. He’s the only announced candidate and has already anointed Assistant Attorney General Liz Murrill to be his successor. If Kennedy does announce and send Landry scooting back to run for reelection as AG, it will upset a lot of plans.
And the Republic Party? Wow, now that’s a real problem. If they stick with Landry and Kennedy wins (which he most likely will) of if it switches allegiances and Landry somehow upsets Kennedy, there is going to be some reshuffling of personnel in the party and potentially a serious split in the party that will rival that of any Baptist church (or in more current terms, the Methodist Conference).
Kennedy must be experiencing a certain amount of overconfidence after coasting to reelection as senator a week ago. But at the same time, he must know that should he run for governor, the in-state politics of a governor’s race is certain to be down and nasty unlike either one of his runs for the Senate – and Kennedy is the kind who doesn’t like to get his hands dirty.
One thing’s for sure: if he does run and if Landry does stay in the race, Louisiana is going to see old-time mud-slinging politicking the likes of which this state has not seen since the days of Earl Long, Jimmie Davis and Willie Rainach. It will be ugly but it will be entertaining. And regardless of who eventually comes out on top, Louisiana once again will hog national headlines for its regressive politics and we will once again be the laughingstock of the nation.
Think about it: months of TV ads of the Cousin Eddie, Foghorn Leghorn, aw shucks rhetoric of Kennedy and the whiney, scratchy, fingernails-on-the-chalkboard screeching of Landry.
Thank goodness for mute buttons on the remotes.
Louisiana Voice 
My head hurts just thinking about hearing Kennedy flap his gums constantly in my den on my teletube!!! And the state GOP seems to have jumped the gun a tad early. But what did anyone expect from the Lose-ee-ana GOP? Of course they are going to back the craziest one! Gonna be a great show, a comedy/tragedy, but one that just may break the last nerve in my old, fragile brain! Yep, thank the gods for the mute button!!!
No matter what, Louisiana loses…again! Why would Kennedy want to leave a cushy job in DC? Ego? The fact that with Dems in control (at least until 2024), his hopes for a committee chairmanship are diminished? Landry, please spare us!
As much as I dislike Kennedy now, I would take almost anyone who could beat Landry. He is just the worst, save his idols Trump and Higgins.
I guess its safer in the confines of the Pelican State than in a majority Democratic Senate. His smarmy stuff will be more palatable in Baton Rouge. Perhaps more influence. Change of diet.
WTF! Our Democracy held and money always controls. Get ready for the circus! I sense (guess?) that we might get an outsider/relatively unknown. I am a Carville fan. Landry should be disbarred and Trump will be indicted and the GOP will keep being who they are. thanks and Keep learning/loving. and GO TOP GUN, ron thompson
A competent Democrat could beat either Kennedy or Landry. Kennedy has a lot of cash but zero accomplishments to run on for a lifetime in politics and Landry is an extremist who lives in an alternate reality. But the challenge for a Democrat is not just to raise money and run a winning campaign but to salvage and shape up the state party, put it on his/her back and carry it across the finish line. It would take a superhero of a candidate and there aren’t many of those around.
This should a be a very interesting race.
My favorite Kennedy saying was his weedkiller phrase.
The first time I heard him say it, I just couldn’t stop laughing. Mr. Kennedy is a very unusual kinda man but a very likable person.
On the other hand, Mr. Jeff Landry is very professional and
also very likeable. He gets down to business and finishes
what he starts with successs most of the time.
Louisiana sure has a lot to clean up, not only with debris from the recent storms but corruption in some elected officials positions.
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME IS:
WHICH ONE WILL HAVE THE MOST GRIT TO GET THE JOB DONE?