for Louisiana’s screwy open primary system. He called it jungle primary. It’s also been called a Cajun Primary, a top-two primary, Louisiana Primary, non-partisan blanket primary, etc.

When Edwards first became governor back in 1971 he got the state legislature to change the election practices in an effort to make it easier for Democrat candidates (he’d had a difficult primary).

Also, as an interesting aside, evidently Washington State and California use this method of voting.

It’s a free-for-all.

I think it’s a bit fitting that Edwin Edwards is still alive to see the veritable dissolution of the Democratic Party in Louisiana. It’ll never leave the state, though it may remain in minority for the foreseeable future.

Gone are the days of ballot boxes floating down the bayous.