The 1999 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held on October 23, 1999 to elect the governor of Louisiana. Republican incumbent Mike Foster was re-elected to a second term in office over Democratic U.S. representative Bill Jefferson.
Foster was the first Republican ever elected to a second term as governor of Louisiana.
Background
In 1991, Louisiana elections (except for U.S. presidential elections) were conducted under a variation of the open primary system called the "jungle primary," in which candidates of all parties were listed on one ballot. Unless one candidate received a majority in the first round, a run-off election would be held between the top two candidates, who may be members of the same party.
In this election, the first round of voting was held on October 23, 1999, and the runoff was scheduled to be held on November 20.
Primary election
Candidates
- Belinda Alexandrenko (Reform)
- Sid Baron (Independent)
- Charles V. Bellone (Democratic)
- Berl Bush (Democratic)
- Mike Foster, incumbent governor of Louisiana since 1996 (Republican)
- Tom Greene, state senator from Maringouin (Republican)
- Bill Jefferson, U.S. representative from New Orleans (Democratic)
- Ronnie Glynn Johnson (Independent)
- Bob McElroy (Democratic)
- Phil Preis, Newellton attorney and 1995 candidate for governor (Democratic)
- Messiah Darryl Paul Ward (Democratic)
Results
Foster easily won reelection with 62.17 percent of the vote. Because Foster won more a majority, there was no runoff. The only parishes carried by Jefferson were his home of Orleans and East Carroll, where Jefferson's birthplace, Lake Providence serves as the parish seat. Democratic candidates collectively won 33.89 percent of the vote.