Complex sentence: Andrew R. Johnson, a Louisiana state senator from 1916--1924, was urged to run for governor in 1924 but he declined, as Fuqua squared off against Long and Bouanchaud.
Split into simpler sentences: Andrew R. Johnson, who since 1916 had been a Louisiana state senator, was urged to run for governor in 1924. Nevertheless, he declined,, and in the event, Fuqua squared off against Long and Bouanchaud.