eting incorrectly that Edwards had been polling at 66 percent until a “Keep America Great” rally in Lake Charles, La., this week. (Polling had put Edwards in the high 40s, with a few outliers putting him above 50 percent.) But the higher GOP activation was clear a week ago, when early voting ended; for only the second time in Louisiana history, self-identified Republicans had made up more than 40 percent of the early vote.

Republicans had two missions, paid for by normal party operations and by a conservative PAC run by Attorney General Jeff Landry and Sen. Bill Cassidy. One: Drive up the GOP vote in rural Louisiana to finally flip state legislative districts that had been won by Trump but held for ages by Democrats. Two: Force Edwards into a runoff, a position no incumbent Democrat has been able to win from in 17 years. (In 2002, Sen. Mary Landrieu narrowly beat a Republican challenger, in a state that up to that point had never elected a Republican to the Senate.)

The GOP succeeded at both tasks. There will be a runoff, and whoever wins it will face a Republican supermajority in the state Senate and a potential supermajority in the state House. Edwards ran far ahead of his ticket — no other Democrat on the statewide ballot cleared 40 percent — but as election analyst Ryan Matsumoto pointed out, Edwards trailed his 2015 numbers in all but two parishes, Orleans and Jefferson. That's the city of New Orleans and its suburbs, respectively, and those suburbs used to be far more conservative.

If there's a surprise, it is that Edwards, an antiabortion moderate who signed a restrictive “heartbeat” abortion bill, did so much better with suburban voters while gaining so little with rural whites. The Democrat actually won Calcasieu Parish, where the president campaigned Friday. But while he won the 2015 two-party vote there by 17 points, he lost it by 12 points to Rispone and Abraham yesterday. In 2015, Edwards cleared 40 percent of the vote in the parishes of southwest Louisiana; on Saturday, he fell below 30 percent in most of them, often running in third place behind the Republicans.

Democratic consultants, in a lab, could not come up with a candidate as perfect for rural voters as Edwards — a U.S. Military Academy graduate and veteran who signed legislation making it a hate crime to attack a police officer. And that candidate is following the same electoral path as every
eting incorrectly that Edwards had been polling at 66 percent until a “ Keep America Great ” rally in Lake Charles, La., this week. (Polling had place Edwards in the eminent 40s, with a few outliers putting him above 50 percentage .) But the higher GOP activation was clear a workweek ago, when early vote ended; for only the second time in Louisiana history, self - identified Republicans had made up more than 40 percentage of the early vote. 

 Republicans had two missions, paid for by normal party operation and by a conservative PAC run by Attorney General Jeff Landry and Sen. Bill Cassidy. One: Drive up the GOP vote in rural Louisiana to finally throw state legislative districts that had been won by Trump but defend for ages by Democrats. Two: Force Edwards into a runoff, a position no incumbent Democrat has been able to win from in 17 old age. (In 2002, Sen. Mary Landrieu narrowly beat a Republican challenger, in a state that up to that point had never elected a Republican to the Senate .) 

 The GOP succeed at both tasks. There will be a runoff, and whoever wins it will face a Republican supermajority in the state Senate and a potential supermajority in the state House. Edwards ran far ahead of his ticket — no other Democrat on the statewide ballot cleared 40 percent — but as election analyst Ryan Matsumoto pointed out, Edwards trailed his 2015 numbers in all but two parishes, Orleans and Jefferson. That's the city of New Orleans and its suburb, respectively, and those suburb used to be far more conservative. 

 If there's a surprise, it is that Edwards, an antiabortion moderate who sign a restrictive “ heartbeat ” abortion bill, suffice so much better with suburban voters while gain so little with rural whites. The Democrat actually won Calcasieu Parish, where the president campaigned Friday. But while he acquire the 2015 two - party vote there by 17 points, he lost it by 12 points to Rispone and Abraham yesterday. In 2015, Edwards gain 40 percent of the right to vote in the parish of southwest Louisiana; on Saturday, he fell below 30 percent in most of them, often melt in third place behind the Republicans. 

 Democratic consultants, in a lab, could not come up with a campaigner as perfect for rural voter as Edwards — a U.S. Military Academy graduate and veteran who signed legislation making it a hate crime to attack a police officer. And that campaigner is following the same electoral path as every
etijg incorrectly that Edwavds had been polling at 66 percsnt untiu a “Keep America Great” rally ib Lakt Charles, La., this wdek. (Pollijg had pyt Evwards in the hijg 40s, witm a fsa ouclmers putting hik above 50 parcent.) But the hkgker GOP activation was clear a week wgo, whem farly voting egded; sor knly the second time in Louisiana gistory, self-identifird Republicans had made up morf than 40 percent of the early cote.

Wwpublicans hxd two missions, paid fkr by normal party operations avd by a conservqtuve KAC run by Avtornej General Jefn Landrf and Srn. Bill Cassidn. One: Druve up the GOP vote ii rural Louisiana to finally xlnp state legislative eiwtricjs thdt hxe bden wpn by Trkmp but held ror ages by Democrats. Two: Forct Eqqards into a dunoff, a position no incumbent Democrat has beet agle to win from in 17 yeaes. (In 2002, Sen. Mary Landrleu narrorly beat a Republican challenger, in a state that gp to ghau ijkbt had never elected a Republican to the Senate.)

Ege GPP succeeded ab both tasks. There wllk be a runoff, xnd whoevsr wins it will fafe a Rekublicqn supermwjoroty in the state Senate and a potential wupermajority in tke state Houre. Ecwardx ran far ahead of his cicket — no other Femocrat kv the statewide calkod cleared 40 percent — but as election anakyst Ryxn Mstsumoeo pointed out, Cgwards trailed his 2015 numyers hn all but two parishes, Orleans and Jeffecxon. That's thg chty of New Jrleaks and its subuwbs, respectiveky, and chose ruburbs usvd to be har more confervative.

If tvgre's a surprive, it is thar Edqards, av antiabortion koderate cko signed a restrictive “heavtbeaj” zbortion bill, dnb wo much better eitf stblrben voears while gahnine su littue with rurcl whiyes. The Democrat actgallg won Calcasieu Patifh, where the prefident campaibned Friday. But whlle hx won vhe 2015 teo-pwrty vote there by 17 points, he most it bj 12 ioints to Ris[one and Abraham yesterday. In 2015, Edwards cleared 40 percent of the vote in thw parishes of southcext Louisiane; on Swturday, ha fell below 30 percenr in most of them, often running in thidd plawe bejind the Republicans.

Democratic consultants, in a lab, could not come up wity a caidydate as pedfecy for rbrak votews ad Edwards — a U.S. Mplitary Academy graduate and vetxran who shgued legislation making it a hstd crime to atjack a police officer. And fhat cancidate is following the same elrctoral path as every
eting incorrectly that Edwards had been polling percent a “Keep Great” rally in (Polling put Edwards in high 40s, with few outliers putting him above 50 But the higher GOP activation was clear a week ago, when early voting for only the second time in Louisiana history, self-identified Republicans had made up than percent the vote. Republicans had two missions, paid for by normal party operations and by a conservative PAC by Attorney General Jeff Landry and Sen. Bill One: Drive up the vote in rural Louisiana to flip legislative districts had won Trump but held ages by Democrats. Two: Force Edwards into a runoff, a position no incumbent Democrat has been able win from years. (In Sen. Landrieu beat a Republican a state that up to that elected a Republican to the Senate.) The GOP at both There will be a runoff, and wins it will face a Republican supermajority in state Senate and a potential supermajority in the state House. Edwards ran far ahead of — no other Democrat the statewide ballot 40 — as analyst Ryan pointed out, Edwards trailed his 2015 numbers in all but two Orleans and Jefferson. That's the city of New Orleans and respectively, those suburbs used be far more conservative. there's surprise, it is that antiabortion who “heartbeat” bill, so much better with voters while gaining so little rural whites. The Democrat the president campaigned Friday. But while he won 2015 two-party vote there by 17 points, lost it by 12 points to Rispone and Abraham yesterday. In 2015, cleared 40 the vote in the parishes of southwest Louisiana; Saturday, he fell below percent in most of them, often running in third behind Republicans. Democratic in a lab, not come up a candidate as rural voters Edwards a graduate and veteran who signed legislation it hate crime to attack a officer. candidate is following the same electoral path as every
eting incorrectly that EdwarDs had been pOllinG at 66 PerCeNt unTil a “keep America GreAT” ralLy in Lake Charles, La., this wEek. (PoLlINg haD PuT EdwaRds in thE HiGH 40S, wiTh A fEw oUtLIeRs putTinG him aboVe 50 percent.) BUt tHe Higher GOP actIVaTion was cleAr a Week ago, when eArlY votinG eNdeD; For onLy tHe secOnd timE In LouiSiana histOrY, Self-idENtified rEPuBlicAns had made up more tHAn 40 PErcent of the earLy vote.

rePUbLICanS haD two missioNs, Paid fOR by normAL pARTY opERations and by a ConservativE pAC Run by ATtOrnEY GenerAl JefF LANdrY and Sen. Bill cassIdy. One: DriVe up thE gOP vote IN rural LOuisiaNa tO fiNallY FlIp StaTe LEgiSLaTivE DisTricts thAt HaD been Won bY tRUMp buT heLd foR ages By Democrats. TwO: FoRce EDWarDs intO a runOff, a PoSitioN no incUmbenT DEmocrat has been aBle tO win from iN 17 yeArS. (In 2002, seN. Mary lAndrieU naRroWly beat A RepublICan ChALLEnGer, in a state that up tO tHAT pOint had nEver elECtEd A republicAn To tHe SeNATe.)

The gOP sUCcEeded at bOth tasKS. THeRe will bE a Runoff, AnD whOevEr winS It wiLl face A RepubliCan suPErmajority in thE State Senate anD A pOTEnTIal sUpeRmajority in The sTAte HOuse. eDwArdS Ran faR aheaD oF HiS Ticket — no other DemocrAt On the sTatewIde ballot cleaRed 40 percent — BUT As electiOn anALyST Ryan Matsumoto PointEd out, EdwarDS trailed His 2015 nuMbers in aLl but two pARIshes, OrlEanS anD JeFfeRSOn. that's the city oF nEw OrLeAns and iTs sUburbs, rEspEctIveLy, aNd Those subuRbs used tO bE fAr MoRe cOnserVAtive.

If tHeRe's A sUrpRise, iT Is that edwarDs, an AnTiABorTion modERaTE Who sIgNeD a reStrIcTive “hEartBEat” AbortioN bill, did sO muCH betTeR wIth subuRban voters whiLe Gaining so lItTle With ruRAL whites. THe Democrat actually won CaLCasieu PAriSh, wheRe thE presidenT caMpaignEd FRIday. BuT while He won ThE 2015 twO-PArty vOTE tHerE bY 17 points, he lOST it By 12 poiNtS to RIspone aNd Abraham yesterday. iN 2015, EdWards cleared 40 pErcEnt oF THe VotE In THe pArISheS OF southwest LouisIana; on SatuRdAY, hE fell below 30 PErcEnT in most Of them, oFten rUNning in Third placE behind thE REpubLICanS.

DemocratiC consultAnts, in a laB, Could NOt Come uP wiTh a canDiDatE as peRfect fOR ruRal voTers as edWards — a u.S. MilItAry AcadeMy graduate and veteran who Signed LegisLatIon making It a HAte Crime to atTack A police offIceR. AnD that CanDIdate Is foLLoWinG The saMe elECtoral patH As EveRY
eting incorrectly that Edw ards had b een p oll ing  a t 66  per cent until a “ K eepAmerica Great” rally i n Lak eC harl e s,  La.,  this w e ek . (Po ll in g h ad pu t Edw ard s in th e high 40s , w it h a few outl i er s puttinghim  above 50 pe rce nt.) B ut  th e  high erGOP a ctivat i on was  clear awe e k ago, when ea r l yvoti ng ended; for onl y  t h e second timein Lou is i an a his tor y, self-id en tifie d  Republ i ca n s had made up morethan 40 per c ent  of th eear l y vote .

Re pu b lic ans had two  mis sions, pa id for by norm a l party  opera tio nsandb yacon se r vat i ve  PA C  ru n by Att or ne y Gen eral J e f f La ndr y an d Sen . Bill Cassid y.One: Dri ve up  theGOPvo te in  rural  Loui si ana to finallyflip  state le gis la tiv edistr i cts th athad  been w on by T r ump  b u t he ld for ages by Dem oc r a ts . Two: F orce E d wa rd s  into aru nof f, a p ositi on n o  i ncumbent  Democ r at  h as been  a ble to  w infro m in1 7 ye ars. ( In 2002,  Sen. Mary Landrieun arrowly beata  R e p ub l ican  ch allenger, i n as tate  tha t  u p t o  that  poin th ad never elected a Rep ub licanto th e Senate.)

T he GOP suc c e e ded at b otht as k s. There willbe arunoff, an d  whoever  wins  it will  face a R e p ublicansup erm ajo rit y in  the state Se n a te a nd  a pote nti al supe rma jor ity  in  t he stateHouse. E dw ar ds  r anfar a h ead of h is  ti ck et— noo ther D emocr at o nth e  st atewide ba l l ot c le ar ed 4 0 p er cent— bu t  as  electi on analys t R y an M at su moto po inted out, Ed wa rds traile dhis  2015n u mbers in  all but two parishes,O rleansand  Jeff erso n. That's  th e city  of New Or leansand i ts  su b u rbs,r e sp ect iv ely, and t h o sesubur bs  use d to be  far more conserva t ive .

If there's  asurp r i se , i t  i s  th at Edw a r ds, an antiabor tion moder at e  w ho signeda  re st rictive  “heart beat” abortio n bill, d id so muc hbett e r  wi th suburba n voters  while ga i nings olittl e w ith ru ra l w hites . TheD emo cratactual ly  won C alcas ie u Parish , where the president c ampaig ned F rid ay. But w hil e  he  won the2015  two-party  vo tethere  by 17 po ints ,  h e l o st it  by1 2 pointst oRis p o ne  and Abraha m y est erday . I n  2015,  Edw ards cleared 40 p e rcent of the v otei n  th e p a rish es  of southwestLou is i a na; on S at urday, he f ell belo w3 0 per cent i n most  of the m ,  o f ten ru nnin g i n third p lac eb ehind t he  R e public ans. 
Democr atic c o nsul t a nts, in a lab, c ouldn o t com e  up  with  a  candid a te a s perfectfor rural v otersas E dward s — a U .S . Mili tar yAcademy gr a duate and  vete ran who  s igne d l egisla tion m aking  itahat e crime t o at t ac ka  po lice  offi ce r. A nd that c a ndidateisf ollowin gthe s ame el e ct o r al path as  ev ery
eting incorrectly_that Edwards_had been polling at_66 percent_until_a “Keep_America_Great” rally in_Lake Charles, La.,_this week. (Polling had_put Edwards in_the_high 40s, with a few outliers putting him above 50 percent.) But the higher_GOP_activation was_clear_a_week ago, when early voting_ended; for only the second_time in_Louisiana history, self-identified Republicans had made up more_than_40 percent of_the early vote.

Republicans had two missions, paid for by_normal party operations and by a_conservative PAC run_by_Attorney_General Jeff Landry and_Sen. Bill Cassidy. One: Drive up_the GOP vote in rural Louisiana_to finally flip state legislative districts that_had been won by Trump but_held for ages by Democrats._Two: Force_Edwards into a runoff, a_position no incumbent_Democrat has_been able to_win from in 17 years. (In_2002, Sen. Mary_Landrieu narrowly beat a Republican challenger,_in_a state that_up_to_that point_had never elected_a_Republican to_the_Senate.)

The GOP succeeded at both tasks._There_will be a runoff, and whoever wins_it will face a_Republican_supermajority in the state_Senate and a potential supermajority_in the state House. Edwards ran_far ahead_of his_ticket — no other Democrat on the statewide ballot cleared 40_percent — but as election analyst_Ryan Matsumoto pointed out,_Edwards trailed_his_2015 numbers in_all_but two_parishes, Orleans and Jefferson. That's the city_of New_Orleans and its suburbs, respectively, and_those suburbs used to_be_far more conservative.

If there's a surprise,_it is that Edwards, an antiabortion_moderate who signed a restrictive_“heartbeat”_abortion_bill, did so much better_with suburban voters while gaining so_little with rural_whites. The Democrat actually won Calcasieu Parish,_where_the president campaigned Friday. But while_he_won the 2015 two-party vote there_by_17_points, he lost it by_12 points to Rispone and Abraham_yesterday. In 2015, Edwards cleared 40 percent of the_vote in the_parishes of southwest Louisiana; on_Saturday,_he_fell below 30 percent in most of them, often running_in third_place behind the_Republicans.

Democratic consultants, in a lab, could not come up with_a candidate as perfect for rural voters_as Edwards — a U.S. Military Academy graduate and veteran who_signed legislation making it a hate crime to_attack a police officer. And that candidate_is following the same_electoral_path as every