John Bel Edwards (born September 16, 1966) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 56th governor of Louisiana since 2016.
A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the Democratic leader of the Louisiana House of Representatives for two terms.
Edwards was elected to the Louisiana House in 2011.
He defeated Republican U.S.
Senator David Vitter in the second round of the 2015 election for governor.
Edwards won a second term in the 2019 election becoming the first Democrat to win reelection since 1975.
He is a United States Army veteran, having served with the 82nd Airborne Division, reaching the rank of captain.