There has been speculation for quite some time that current Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry will run for governor in 2023.

There were many conservatives that wanted him to do so three years ago and challenge incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards. The two have battled each other in court since they each were elected to their respective positions.

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Landry is currently in his second term as Attorney General and his Solicitor General Liz Murrill has already announced her intentions to run for the AG position as we are one year away from qualifying.

Edwards is term-limited and must sit out this election. But, he can run for the governorship again in 2027. Remember, the late Edwin Edwards served four terms as Louisiana governor over two decades.

Nearly a month ago, there was some interesting merchandise spotted at Landry's annual gator hunt event that suggested he was indeed running for governor.

Landry has also not been afraid to challenge President Joe Biden to drill more in the U.S. and return America to energy independence.

Yes, a drillbit. As you can tell, the message is delivered a little bit tongue-in-cheek but Landry maintains the legitimacy of the drillbit in helping the people in the U.S.

When you put this bit in the ground here in America, you reduce the cost of energy, you make us more secure, you build a bigger, stronger, better middle class, and you take the burden off of the poor. So, why don't you help us lower the gasoline prices and utilites by allowing Americans and Louisianians to use this tool more often.

 

But now, Landry is making it official: he is running for governor in 2023.

WATCH his announcement and READ the transcript below:

When you look at the faces of the great people of our state - You see smiles, grateful for all that God’s given us. Eyes that’ve seen the best in people. - Even while staring down the toughest of challenges. You see fresh faces - excited for the future - And you see worry lines - deepened by concern for what’s next.

 

I’m Jeff Landry.

 

People say that Louisiana is blessed with an abundance of natural resources - But I believe our greatest natural resource is its people. Our ancestors first came to this land 300 years ago. The small town I grew up in has a church at its core. It’s where my parents taught me about faith - standing up for what you believe in - and caring for others.

 

My mother was a school teacher, my Dad, a small-town architect. We lived through the oil bust of the 80s. Which turned middle-class families like ours - into families struggling to get by. Times were tough. But we had faith, and we had each other. I went to work right after high school in the sugar cane fields - and I proudly joined the national guard - Serving in Operation Desert Storm.

 

I worked my way through college as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy. Working in law enforcement - I saw the best - and the worst a community has to offer. I went on to start a successful business with a friend and saw firsthand the impact of government regulations on small businesses. That’s when I decided to go to law school - To stand up for business owners and help them succeed in the face of big government.

 

Digging ditches in sugar cane fields, Serving our country, Working nights as an officer, Starting a business, Raising a family. I have walked in the very shoes of people who struggle way more than they should - in a state as blessed as this one. My next step was a big one - That NO ONE thought I could do. I was just a regular guy, involved in my community, and an outsider, a new face, a cajun that would shock the Louisiana political establishment when I ran for -  and won a seat in Congress.

 

As a Congressman - I stood up for what WE believe in. I was named one of the top 5 most conservative members of Congress, But I’m just as proud to have cast more bi-partisan votes than ANY other member from Louisiana at that time. Why? Because I do what’s right - not what’s politically popular, even if that means challenging my own party when they stray off target. And as your Attorney General - that has not changed. My responsibility is to protect this state, her culture, her values, her people, and her children.

 

What we have in Louisiana right now - is a complete crisis of leadership and a lack of priorities. As the son of a school teacher, I think it’s a sin that seventy-four percent of our fourth graders can’t read the way they should and nearly eighty percent of our eighth graders can’t do basic math. 

 

We have some liberal school boards and radical school leaders forcing political philosophy into the classroom… Meanwhile, they’re failing to teach our kids the very basics, and they’re cutting parents out of the process at the same time. I believe the most important voice in a child’s education is the parent.

 

We deserve a government as good as our people. And we’re not getting it. You know - Louisiana was once defined by our great cities. They were the gems of the south - the cornerstones of our state. Sadly today, crime has taken hold. Incompetent mayors and “woke” district attorneys are playing a dangerous game of “catch and release.”

In New Orleans, people are scared to pump gas or walk to their cars. Our capital city has one of the highest murder rates in the nation. And other cities around our state aren’t far behind. 

 

To the people in those cities - we care about you. You are good people living with a bad government. You deserve safe neighborhoods. And when you hurt - our entire state hurts. If those chosen to run these cities won’t act… won’t protect their citizens… and follow our laws…then real leaders need to step in. 

 

Our outmigration problem is not just a statistic. Every person that leaves this state - is a family broken…A grandparent less likely to know their grandchild. And it’s more of our culture lost. I’m tired of people leaving our state. I’m angry that our children’s education isn’t a priority. I’m sick of our big cities being run like third-world nations.

 

We can fix our broken tax system…We can modernize our outdated constitution…We can have a state government that fixes problems and delivers solutions. It’s not going to be easy, But WE CAN put our state on a new course because the path we’re on… is even harder. 

 

By now, you’re probably wondering… “Jeff, are you running for Governor?” Well here’s my answer, I am NOT running for Governor…I am not running for Governor…WE are running for Governor…WE need to work together as a team.

 

This election is not about me. It’s about you. I cannot do this alone. We must join together to build the Louisiana we want, the one we need and the one we deserve. The time for excuses is over. 

 

Ask any champion and they’ll tell you You have to be willing to do the things that are hard to achieve that which you love.

 

And I love this state.

So, who will Landry run against? That remains to be seen.

Read More: Who are the Early Favorites to be Louisiana's Next Governor?

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