LOUISIANA'S re-elected Governor John Bel Edwards roasted Donald Trump last night – saying of the President: "Bless his heart".

Edwards' withering put-down came after his shock election win – which sees him remain as the only Democrat governor in the Deep South.

He narrowly defeated Republican candidate Eddie Rispone – who received heavy endorsement from Trump, including three visits by the President.

Edwards' victory in the Republican heartland is a crippling blow to Trump, who had viewed the election as a gauge of his popularity.

Trump had made several appeals to his supporters to vote for his Republican candidate – sending flurries of Tweets right up to polls closing on Saturday.

But after overcoming the Republican election machine with 51 per cent of the vote, Edwards, 53, said: "How sweet it is!"

And as for the president, God bless his heart

Speaking to his excited supporters in Baton Rouge, Edwards added: "And as for the president, God bless his heart."

The phrase is often used by genteel Southerners to politely deprecate someone.

Edwards, a conservative Democrat, continued: "Tonight the people of Louisiana have chosen to chart their own path."

The West Point graduate opposes gun restrictions, signed one of the nation's strictest abortion bans and dismissed the impeachment effort against Trump as a distraction.

REPUBLICANS RATTLED

The Louisiana result seems certain to rattle Republicans as they head into the 2020 presidential election.

It comes after a defeat in the Kentucky governors' race and sizeable losses in Virginia's legislative election.

As he conceded the race, Rispone, 70, called on supporters to give a round of applause for Trump.

He said: "That man loves America and he loves Louisiana."

Despite Edwards' win, Louisiana is expected to easily back Trump next year.

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