Any surprises left in qualifying?

Jefferson businessman John Georges, a Democrat, is “seriously thinking” about opposing Gov. Bobby Jindal, according to a political website. Georges told BayouBuzz.com Tuesday evening that he would make his decision over the next 48 hours. Qualifying for statewide office ends at 5 p.m. Thursday. If Georges should leap—he was handed substantial defeats by Jindal four years ago and in the New Orleans mayoral race in 2010—the shipping tycoon will have to do some financial rearranging. In late July, Georges emptied his campaign account of more than $10 million, according to his most recent finance report on file with the state Ethics Administration. It was a loan repayment for personal funds Georges had deposited into his account previously. Further down the ballot, Democrats are also waiting on New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard, who was touting a poll just a few weeks ago showing her strengths in the developing race for secretary of state. Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle, a Republican who also serves as Jindal’s chief lobbyist, has likewise been eyeing the secretary of state contest, along with the lieutenant governor’s race, but remained undecided as qualifying kicked off yesterday morning. If you want a blow-by-blow of how the statewide races are shaping up, keep an eye on the secretary of state’s Twitter feed here, which can be viewed even if you don’t have a Twitter account. For the list of Capital Region candidates who have qualified so far, click here. For a link of qualifiers from all across the state, click here. —Jeremy Alford