Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, one of three Republican opponents of Democrat John Bel Edwards in the governor’s race primary, crossed party lines Thursday (Nov. 5) to endorse Edwards over Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter.

“The Republican brand has been damaged by the failed leadership of Bobby Jindal during this last term,” Dardenne said in making his announcement. “David Vitter’s governorship will further damage that brand as I and others have pointed out during the campaign. I cannot and will not sit idly by and refuse to speak truth to power.”

Dardenne made his endorsement at “Free Speech Alley” in front of the student union on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge. Dardenne served as president of LSU’s student government when he was in law school.