Tuesday night was a historic election with Democrats taking back control of Congress in a significant way. Jeff Palermo has reaction from Louisiana’s House delegation…
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
____________________________________________
There are two Congressional races that are still undecided in Louisiana as the fifth and sixth districts will have runoffs. Joe Gallinaro has the story…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
____________________________________________
House Speaker Mike Johnson of Benton is not planning on remaining House Republican leader as the Democrats take firm control of the House. LSU-Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow says most Speakers do not try to take the step down to minority leader, but the decider for Johnson was just how big of a swing the House took toward the Democrats.
Cut 3 (10) “…gap now.”
NBC News projects an 81-seat Democratic majority in the House.
Johnson rose from state representative to Speaker of the House in just eight years, serving the shortest tenure of any House member elected Speaker since 1883. Sadow says he navigated a tumultuous era of politics.
Cut 4 (09) “…his service.”
Sadow says he does not expect the Republican Party to completely toss out its current House leadership after its loss in the midterms. He says the poor showing in the polls was a result of the current political environment, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise has the best chance of filling Johnson’s role in the party.
Cut 5 (12) “…at this point.”
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan from Ohio is also expected to run for Minority Leader. Republicans are scheduled to hold an internal election to select their candidate for the position November 10.
____________________________________________
Democrats have regained control of both the US House and Senate, which means Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson will no longer be the Speaker of the House when a new Congress is sworn in January. But Johnson, who was re-elected to a sixth term, says Republicans will not stop fighting to defend the Constitution and protect the foundations that makes America great…
Cut 6 (10) “…clapping.”
Louisiana Radio Network has learned Johnson will not run for House minority leader. Democrats are expected to win about 255 House seats, well above the 218 needed to secure a majority.
Louisiana Republican Congressman Steve Scalise from Jefferson Parish could transition from House Majority Leader to House Minority Leader. Scalise vowed that as Republicans transition to the minority, he will act as a primary opponent and “firewall” against Democratic and socialist-aligned policies
Cut 7 (11) “…back on track.”
New Orleans Democratic Congressman Troy Carter says with Democrats in control of Congress they can now provide the necessary check to President Trump’s power…
Cut 8 (15) “…want change.”
Carter says the President’s failed policies and empty promises is why Democrats have regained the majority…
Cut 9 (15) “…America deserves better.”
Carter will begin his fourth term in the US House in January. He’s currently the First Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.
____________________________________________________________
One Louisiana seat flipped last night without any redistricting. Republican John Atkins was elected as the new District Five Public Service Commissioner, replacing the term-limited Democrat Foster Campbell. Atkins may have been buoyed by the fact that this was the first PSC race to use the closed party primary; he beat Democrat James Edward Green 59-to-41-percent. Atkins notes that there’s a lot of data center activity in his district, which covers all of North Louisiana, and there could be more to come.
Cut 10 (06) “…information on that.”
As such, Atkins says he and other commissioners are looking at innovative ways to power these data centers without placing any burdens on other utility customers.
Cut 11 (13) “…of the grid.”
Atkins says another one of his priorities is keeping utility rates affordable for consumers, and that will require innovation as well.
Cut 12 (11) “…in Northeast Louisiana.”
____________________________________________________
There are two U-S House races in Louisiana that remain unsettled. In the fifth and sixth districts, it will be Democrats facing off against Republican candidates. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it will be interesting to see if the National Democratic Party will get involved…
Cut 13 (13) “…competitive edge.”
In the 5th District, Democrat Pat Moore faces Republican Gabe Firment and in the Sixth District, Democrat Chauna Banks will face Republican Blake Miguez. The run-off elections will take place on Saturday December 12th. Stockley says Republicans have some time to recover and get their base back out to the polls…
Cut 14 (10) “…win them.”
Stockley says Tuesday’s elections taught us that anything is possible on December 12th…
Cut 15 (12) “…tolerated.”