Wizards: David Duke, America's Wildest Election, and the Rise of the Far Right

by Brian Fairbanks

A corrupt old Democrat.

A surging Republican populist.

The Democrat, hounded by corruption allegations; the Republican, dogged by business failures and ties to white supremacists.

The Republican turned out thousands of screaming supporters for speeches blaming illegal immigrants and crime on the Democrats, and the Democrat plummeted in the polls.

Sound familiar?

The '91 Louisiana Governor's race was supposed to be forgettable. But when former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke shocked the nation by ousting incumbent Republican Governor Buddy Roemer in the primary, the world took notice. Democrat Edwin Edwards, a former three-term governor and two-time corruption defendant, was left alone to face Duke in the general election—and he was going to lose.

Then a little-known state committeewoman stepped in with evidence of Duke's nefarious past. Could her evidence be enough to sway the minds of fired-up voters, or would Louisiana welcome a far-right radical into the highest office in the state?

Journalist Brian Fairbanks explores how the final showdown between Duke and Edwards in November 1991 led to a major shift in our national politics, as well as the rise of the radical right and white supremacist groups, and how history repeated itself in the 2016 presidential election. The story of these political "wizards," almost forgotten by history, remains eerily prescient and disturbingly relevant, and a compulsive page-turner.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Audiobook

282 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2022

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm biased.

[Zee Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I obtained this book when I did a job shadow at Vanderbilt Press. I talked to the wonderful team who put this book together (minus Fairbanks of course), and they all said the same thing: it is worth the read.

I have to agree. Completely.

I never knew much about the elections that included David Duke, but now I feel like a semi-expert. The ending was especially impactful in how Fairbanks tied those elections in with the present. This book was extremely well researched, informative, and easy to follow.

My only issues with it is that, at times, it felt very repetitive or jumbled. I occasionally had to reread parts several times or go back to fully grasp what was happening. That being said, most of those issues may have to do with me rather than the author. I also wish the present day was expanded upon more than just the last 20 pages or so. I also think more historical connections or set ups would've been helpful.

Regardless, it is a great book that is super informative about the rise of the far right in the past few decades.

[James Booknight · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute romp through an infinitely quotable, extremely tragic election. Falls short somewhat trying to place the contest in the larger context of a rising far right movement. Worth reading for Edwin Edwards' one liners alone.

[Adamdaigle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eh, another book on the 1991 Louisiana gubernatorial election. But each one has brought something different, including this one. East, fast read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was wild to live through this state election as an elementary schooler.

Our social studies teachers were visibly struggling while trying to explain the candidates without having to explain either Edwards’ philandering and ethical violations or David Duke being…who he was…something.

At any rate I really liked historical background this book brought to me the buildup to the election (which was left out of the aforementioned social studies classes) but wished that might have been interviews with Edwards and Duke as well.