KEY TAKEAWAYS: Louisiana voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to limit governors to two four-year terms over their lifetime. Amendment No. 4 would replace the current restriction of two consecutive terms, which allows former governors to run again after four years out of office. The amendment wou ld prevent former Govs. Bobby Jindal and John Bel Edwards from seeking another term as governor. State Rep. Mike Bayham sponsored the proposal, which received the required two-thirds legislative approval. Early voting begins Oct. 20.   Louisiana voters will decide whether to enact new term limits for governors with a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot. House Bill 225 by Republican Chalmette Rep. Mike Bayham won final legislative passage with two-thirds votes in the House and Senate, which sent the measure straight to the ballot as Amendment No. 4. Early voting begins Oct. 20. The amendment, which would limit governors to two terms in a lifetime, would prevent political comebacks for Republican Bobby Jindal and Democrat John Bel Edwards, Louisiana’s only living former governors. “I don’t think we need to get politicians of the past to develop solutions for our future,” Bayham said in an interview with USA Today Network. “I believe we need to have a clear break (with past) administrations.” While current law in the Louisiana Constitution limits governors to two consecutive four-year terms, it doesn’t prevent them from running for future terms after they sit out for at least four years. “This would guarantee the opportunity for new blood and fresh perspective,” Bayham said. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. “The amendment will put distance between the political past that has defined us. It’s an opportunity to move beyond personality cults.” Bayham said his bill doesn’t target either Jindal or Edwards specifically, though he was asked about it at every step of the legislative process. “This isn’t about a specific person; it’s really about the future and not the past,” he said. Apparently, Edwards didn’t agree. After the bill passed, Edwards threw some shade in a post on X. “I think this is what the kids call ‘living in somebody’s head rent free,’ Edwards said in his post along with a sunglass-wearing smiley face emoji. Jindal, who served two terms from 2008-2016, and Edwards, who served two terms from 2016-2024, would both be barred from running again for governor, although they could pursue other state or federal political offices. Current Republican Gov. Jeff Landry is serving his first term. The late Edwin Edwards, a Democrat, served a record four terms as Louisiana’s governor, the last beginning in 1992. The late Earl Long, a Democrat, served three terms as governor. “Neither of them ended well,” said Bayham, referring to Edwin Edwards and Earl Long. “Long ended up in an insane asylum and Edwards ended up in a federal prison.” Bayham said he believes voters will embrace the term limits bill. “It’s time to let go of the politics of the past,” he said. Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Proposed amendment to Louisiana Constitution would enact term limits Reporting by Greg Hilburn, Shreveport Times / Shreveport Times USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect ...read more read less