Louisiana’s most recent governor’s race appears to be the most expensive in state history as unfettered spending from outside political groups boosted total campaign spending to $50 million, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.
The reports, submitted to the state ethics administration office, document dollars poured into the November runoff competition won by Democrat John Bel Edwards, who will be sworn into office Monday, and the wrap up of the campaign cycle, The Associated Press reports.
The four major candidates who sought the governorship—Edwards, Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter—spent a combined $29.7 million on their campaign efforts.
They accounted for about 59% of the total campaign spending, with Edwards and his runoff opponent Vitter each spending more than $11 million in their election bids, according to campaign finance reports. Angelle spent nearly $4 million for the primary; Dardenne, $3.3 million.
While Vitter and Edwards mirrored spending levels overall, Edwards’ money largely was poured into the runoff competition. Vitter was outspent in the runoff, as he used millions earlier in his campaign to fend off his GOP opponents and secure a spot on the Nov. 21 ballot.
Newly freed from previous donor contribution limits, political action committees pumped another $20.3 million into activities aimed at supporting or opposing the gubernatorial contenders. That dollar amount accounted for about 41% of the total.
The previous high-water mark in Louisiana governor’s race spending came in 2007, when the four major candidates spent a combined $32 million on their campaigns. Term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican whom Edwards will follow into office, won that election. Two wealthy businessmen, John Georges and Walter Boasso, pumped millions of their personal wealth into their unsuccessful campaigns.
PACs played a limited role in the 2007 election cycle, but that was before a state law that had capped contributions to political action committees at $100,000 for each four-year election cycle was thrown out by a federal judge. The ruling allowed newly created super PACs to raise and spend unlimited sums, and they proliferated in the 2015 governor’s race.
