| Election Name: | 1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Louisiana |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1983 Louisiana gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1983 |
| Election Date: | October 24, 1987 (first round) |
| Next Election: | 1991 Louisiana gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
| Flag Year: | 1912 |
| 1Blank: | First round |
| 2Blank: | Runoff |
| Image1: | File:Buddy Roemer Congress.jpg |
| Candidate1: | Buddy Roemer |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| 1Data1: | 516,078 33.11% |
| 2Data1: | Winner by default |
| Candidate2: | Edwin Edwards |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| 1Data2: | 437,801 28.09% |
| 2Data2: | Withdrew |
| Image3: | File:BobLivingston.jpg |
| Candidate3: | Bob Livingston |
| Party3: | Republican Party (United States) |
| 1Data3: | 287,780 18.46% |
| 2Data3: | Eliminated |
| Image4: | File:Billy tauzin.jpg |
| Candidate4: | Billy Tauzin |
| Party4: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| 1Data4: | 154,079 9.88% |
| 2Data4: | Eliminated |
| Candidate5: | James H. "Jim" Brown |
| Party5: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| 1Data5: | 138,223 8.87% |
| 2Data5: | Eliminated |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Edwin Edwards |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Buddy Roemer |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held to elect the Governor of Louisiana. Three-term incumbent Democratic Governor Edwin Edwards lost re-election to a fourth term, defeated by Democratic congressman Buddy Roemer.
Edwin Edwards defeated Governor Dave Treen in the 1983 election. Edwards was prosecuted as governor by U.S. District Attorney John Volz for selling hospital certificates, but the first trial results in a hung jury before Edwards was acquitted.
Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. On October 24, 1987, Roemer and Edwards took the two highest popular vote counts. As neither took over 50% a runoff was scheduled, but Edwards withdrew, causing the runoff's cancellation.
The Times-Picayune and other newspapers endorsed Roemer four weeks prior to the primary. He was initially fifth in polling behind Edwards and Livingston, but rose to placing first in the primary. Edwards withdrew from the election prior to the runoff.
Livingston only placed first in three parishes which were all within his congressional district. Republican areas, such as Caddo Parish, instead supported Roemer.
First voting round, October 24
| 1987 Louisiana gubernatorial election | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
| Democratic | Buddy Roemer | align=center | 516,078 | align=center | 33.11 | |
| Democratic | Edwin Edwards (incumbent) | align=center | 437,801 | align=center | 28.09 | |
| Republican | Robert "Bob" Livingston | align=center | 287,780 | align=center | 18.46 | |
| Democratic | Billy Tauzin | align=center | 154,079 | align=center | 9.88 | |
| Democratic | James H. "Jim" Brown | align=center | 138,223 | align=center | 8.87 | |
| Democratic | Speedy O. Long | align=center | 18,738 | align=center | 1.2 | |
| Democratic | Earl J. Amedee | align=center | 3,767 | align=center | 0.24 | |
| Democratic | Ken "Cousin Ken" Lewis | align=center | 2,264 | align=center | 0.15 | |
| Total | align=center | 1,558,730 | align=center | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||||
State of Louisiana. Primary and General Election Returns, 1987.