1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election

1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election

October 24, 1987

Candidate Buddy Roemer Edwin Edwards Bob Livingston Party Democratic Democratic Republican Popular vote 516,128 434,802 287,770 Percentage 33.15% 27.93% 18.49%   Candidate Billy Tauzin James H. "Jim" Brown Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 154,444 138,824 Percentage 9.92% 8.92%

Parish results Roemer:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Edwards:      30–40%      40–50% Livingston:      30–40%      40–50% Tauzin:      30–40%      40–50%

Governor before election Edwin Edwards Democratic Elected Governor Buddy Roemer Democratic

The 1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held to elect the Governor of Louisiana. Three-term incumbent Democratic Governor Edwin Edwards lost re-election to a fourth term, defeated by Democratic congressman Buddy Roemer.

Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. On October 24, 1987, Roemer and Edwards took the two highest popular vote counts. As neither took over 50% a runoff was scheduled, but Edwards withdrew, causing the runoff's cancellation.

Background

In this election, the first round of voting was held on October 24. In second place, Edwin Edwards was entitled to face Roemer in the runoff, but he withdrew from the race after the first round of voting. Buddy Roemer, elected as a Democrat, switched his party affiliation to Republican during his term as governor.

Results

Parishes won by Gubernatorial Candidates in the October 24, 1987 Election.

  Buddy Roemer (37)

  Edwin Edwards (20)

  Billy Tauzin (4)

  Bob Livingston (3)

First voting round, October 24

1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Buddy Roemer	516,078	33.15
	Democratic	Edwin Edwards (incumbent)	437,801	27.93
	Republican	Robert "Bob" Livingston	287,780	18.49
	Democratic	Billy Tauzin	154,079	9.92
	Democratic	James H. "Jim" Brown	138,223	8.92
	Democratic	Speedy O. Long	18,738	1.20
	Democratic	Earl J. Amedee	3,767	0.24
	Democratic	Ken "Cousin Ken" Lewis	2,264	0.15
Total	1,558,730	100
	Democratic hold

Runoff did not occur due to Edwards withdrawing

Preceded by 1983 gubernatorial election

Louisiana gubernatorial elections

Succeeded by 1991 gubernatorial election

Sources

State of Louisiana. Primary and General Election Returns, 1987.