Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and his top two Republican challengers, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone, sparred in the first statewide TV debate Thursday coordinated by Nexstar.
Edwards, as expected, was a target of both Republicans, but Rispone also continued his attack against fellow Republican Abraham, The News Star reports.
Here are four takeaways from the debate:
1. All three find common ground on two issues: guns and abortion.
Edwards may be a Democrat, but he’s signed every law presented to him restricting abortions in Louisiana as governor, including a controversial measure this summer that bans abortions at six weeks without exceptions for rape or incest.
2. Rispone pressed his outsider status as Edwards and Abraham locked horns.
“It’s fun to watch two politicians go after each other,” Rispone said. “I’m just a businessman.”
3. Should the temporary 45-cent sales tax be rolled back early?
Edwards believes the timetable for the sales tax to expire in 2025 should remain in place.
Abraham said he would support reversing the temporary sales tax immediately. Rispone also said Louisianians are overtaxed.
4. None would scuttle the Medicaid expansion, but Republicans accuse Edwards of mismanagement.
Read the full analysis of the debate from The News Star.
