Ralph Abraham concedes, congratulates and endorses Rispone

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Latest on Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards' fight to retain his seat in primary (all times local):

During a speech at ULM, Ralph Abraham congratulated and endorsed Eddie Rispone in a runoff race against Incumbent Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.

9:50 p.m.

Incumbent Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has taken the lead in a primary against two major Republican challengers. But it's unclear if the Deep South's only Democratic governor will get enough votes to win outright.

Republicans were trying to keep Edwards below 50% voter support in Saturday's election and force him into a November runoff to determine if he'll win a second term.

President Donald Trump made a last-minute, election eve appeal to Louisiana's voters to reject Edwards. Trump urged voters to choose one of his two main GOP opponents: U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham or businessman Eddie Rispone.

Edwards needs cross-party support to win in ruby red Louisiana. He ran on bipartisanship, saying he worked across party lines on all the major initiatives he achieved in his first term in office.

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8 p.m.

Polls have closed in Louisiana's election, with the Deep South's only Democratic governor waiting to learn if he'll win a second term outright or if he'll have to campaign until November.

The governor's race topped a primary ballot Saturday, with Gov. John Bel Edwards facing five opponents.

His two major challengers are Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and Republican businessman Eddie Rispone.

Edwards needs cross-party support to win. He must top 50% voter support to avoid a Nov. 16 runoff.

The race has drawn national GOP interest. President Donald Trump held a rally on election eve in which he urged Louisiana Republicans to vote against Edwards.

Also on the ballot, six other statewide elected officials in Louisiana were trying to win new terms in office.

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1 a.m.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is striving to hang on to a rare Democratic governorship in Deep South Trump territory against a national GOP offensive aimed at forcing him into a runoff.

Republicans are trying to hold Edwards under the 50% benchmark the region's only Democratic governor needs Saturday to avoid another election on Nov. 16.

Edwards faces two main GOP challengers: U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone. But three lesser-known contenders also could peel off a few percentage points.

Polls close at 8 p.m.

President Donald Trump made a last-minute appeal to Louisiana's voters on Friday, urging them to reject Edwards.

Also on Louisiana's ballot, six Republican statewide elected officials are running for reelection to new four-year terms.

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10/12/2019 9:53:43 PM (GMT -5:00)