Reader Smooth Cat pointed out in the comment section below that unlike other states, Louisiana has an open election, meaning that there are no primaries and there is often, though not always, a runoff so that the winner has to get over 50% of the vote to become governor. Several years ago this lead to the infamous runoff election between Edwin Edwards and David Duke when incumbent Governor Buddy Roemer was squeezed out in the open election. It's hard to defend a system that leads to that kind of election.

Then again, my aunt was in town last week and the subject turned to the Texas gubernatorial elections of last year, wherein Rick Perry was sworn in with roughly 40% of the vote that many people thought was the prelude to a runoff. Say what you will about the Louisiana system, but it wouldn't permit that. Then again, it's unlikely that Chris Bell or Carole Keeton Strayhorn would have been able to win in a runoff, so I guess it's just as well.