BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Latest on Louisiana’s election sign-up period (all times local):

4:30 p.m.

The first day of Louisiana’s candidate registration period has ended with nearly all statewide elected officials signed up for their re-election bids.

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards qualified Tuesday for the Oct. 12 ballot, along with his two major Republican opponents: U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone. Two other contenders also joined the field.

In addition to the governor’s race, five of the six GOP statewide elected officials also registered their candidacies Tuesday: Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Attorney General Jeff Landry, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain.

Ardoin, Donelon and Strain picked up challengers.

Republican Treasurer John Schroder planned to register for his race Wednesday. He’s drawn an opponent he defeated in 2017: Democratic lawyer Derrick Edwards.

Candidate registration continues through Thursday.

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12 p.m.

The three major candidates for Louisiana governor have signed up for the race on the first day of the candidate registration period.

Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards, Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and Republican businessman Eddie Rispone qualified Tuesday for the Oct. 12 election.

Edwards said his performance in office and the state’s financial stability should recommend him for a second term.

Abraham and Rispone blamed Edwards‘ tax policies for chasing away residents and businesses. They said they would cut taxes, without offering specifics about how they would balance the budget with less money.

Rispone said he’d require agencies to start from zero and justify any money they receive. Abraham said he’d cut waste and fraud and draw tax dollars from the new businesses he’d attract.

Qualifying for the Oct. 12 ballot continues through Thursday.

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11:30 a.m.

Four of Louisiana’s Republican statewide elected officials have registered for their re-election bids.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Attorney General Jeff Landry and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain all signed up for the Oct. 12 ballot on Tuesday, the opening day of qualifying.

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to show up later Tuesday to qualify for his race. His two main Republican challengers, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone, signed up before him.

Races for governor, six other statewide jobs and all state legislative seats are on the fall ballot. Candidate registration wraps up Thursday evening.

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9 a.m.

Candidate registration for Louisiana’s Oct. 12 election has started.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, a Republican whose office oversees signup for statewide candidates, was first in line to register as qualifying opened Tuesday.

He was quickly followed by two other GOP statewide elected officials: Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry.

Also among the first to qualify for a statewide job was Republican Tim Temple, running for insurance commissioner against GOP incumbent Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon.

Races for governor, six other statewide jobs and all state legislative seats are on the fall ballot.

Expected to sign up Tuesday are all three major candidates for governor: Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards and his Republican challengers, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone.

Candidate registration wraps up Thursday evening.

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6:30 a.m.

Louisiana’s election sign-up period is starting, with the races for governor, six other statewide jobs and all state legislative seats on the fall ballot.

The candidate qualifying period for the Oct. 12 election runs Tuesday through Thursday. It often is the unofficial kickoff for campaign season in Louisiana.

The governor’s race tops the ballot.

Incumbent John Bel Edwards is vying for a second term as the Deep South’s only Democratic governor. He faces two main Republican challengers, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone.

Also seeking re-election are six Republican statewide elected officials: Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Attorney General Jeff Landry, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Treasurer John Schroder, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain. Both Donelon and Strain have announced challengers.

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