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Louisiana’s Ralph Abraham Running for Governor

Edwards has accused him of ‘abandoning’ responsibilities in Congress

Louisiana GOP Rep. Ralph Abraham is running for governor. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Louisiana GOP Rep. Ralph Abraham is running for governor. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Louisiana Rep. Ralph Abraham is running for governor in 2019.

“I’m running for governor and I intend to win,” the Republican lawmaker tweeted Thursday morning. 

He’s the second Republican to announce a challenge to Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. Sen. John Kennedy announced earlier this week he wouldn’t run for the office, opening the field to lesser-known candidates. 

“Louisiana deserves better than what she currently has,” Abraham told the USA Today Network. “I’m seeing businesses leaving and a governor who has been focused on raising taxes. I intend to do something about that.”

Edwards fired back that the congressman is “abandoning [his] responsibilities” in Congress just a month after he was re-elected.

First elected to Congress in a 2014 runoff, Abraham is a doctor who represents Louisiana’s 5th District. He replaced former Rep. Vance McAllister, who after being caught on camera kissing a former staffer, finished fourth in that 2014 jungle primary.

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