Politics As governor, John Bel Edwards led Louisiana through crisis after crisis By Deanna B. Narveson - December 22, 2023 Gov. John Bel Edwards at COVID press briefing in April 2020. (Collin Richie) FacebookXLinkedinEmailPrint On Jan. 11, 2016, the same day he was sworn into office, John Bel Edwards received his first briefing as governor about a weather-related disaster headed for Louisiana. Already an INSIDER? Sign in.