BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has told state Democratic Party leaders he's backing Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell in the U.S. Senate race.

The governor's endorsement of the utility regulator from Bossier Parish was a blow to the campaign of Caroline Fayard, a New Orleans lawyer from a family of long-time Democratic Party supporters.

Edwards told the state party's governing body Saturday that Campbell has demonstrated he can win elections in places where people didn't believe a Democrat could gain support. He encouraged the state party to unite behind one candidate.

At least five GOP contenders have said they'll be on the November ballot to fill the seat being vacated by Republican David Vitter, who announced he would not seek re-election after losing the governor's race to Edwards.