WATCH: 7 Leading Candidates for Governor Speak at Forum

April 4, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

WATCH: 7 Leading Candidates for Governor Speak at Forum

NFIB, the Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Louisiana Retail Association today co-hosted a forum with the seven leading candidates for governor. “It’s the first time all seven candidates have appeared together at the same event,” NFIB State Director Dawn McVey said. “It was a good opportunity for our members and other business owners to hear where each candidate stands on the issues affecting Louisiana’s job creators.” The participating candidates were:

Sharon Hewitt (R)
Jeff Landry (R)
Hunter Lundy (Independent)
Richard Nelson (R)
John Schroder (R)
Stephen Waguespack (R)
Shawn Wilson (D)

The event, held at Jubans Restaurant, an NFIB member business in Baton Rouge, drew over 100 small business owners. Hewitt, the Senate majority leader, said she’s running to find ways to keep families from leaving Louisiana. Nelson, the state representative from District 89, said cutting taxes on small businesses would help create jobs, encourage more businesses to locate in Louisiana, and discourage young people from moving to Texas or some other Southern state. Waguespack, who recently stepped down as president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry to enter the governor’s race, also touched on the theme of stopping the exodus of young people from the state. Landry, who currently serves as state attorney general, said reducing crime is key to improving the state’s economy. Schroder, the current state treasurer, said Louisiana needs a governor who will run the state like a business. Wilson, who served as the secretary of the state Department of Transportation and Development from 2016 to 2023, talked about bipartisanship and said that as a former state official, he understands the issues facing Louisiana’s small businesses. Lundy, an attorney from Lake Charles, talked about Louisiana’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s gubernatorial primary will take place on Oct. 14. The general election will be Nov. 18. Current Gov. John Bel Edwards is term-limited and can’t seek a third consecutive term.