Jeff LandryJeff Landry – LA

Current Position: Louisiana Governor since 2023
Affiliation: Republican

Jeff Landry is an attorney who is the governor-elect of Louisiana, having been elected in 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he has served since 2016 as the 45th attorney general of Louisiana and as the U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2013.

Born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, Landry graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard, which he joined while still in high school, for 11 years. While in college, Landry worked as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy

OnAir Post: Jeff Landry – LA

Summary

Current Position: Louisiana Governor since 2023
Affiliation: Republican

Jeff Landry is an attorney who is the governor-elect of Louisiana, having been elected in 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he has served since 2016 as the 45th attorney general of Louisiana and as the U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2013.

Born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, Landry graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard, which he joined while still in high school, for 11 years. While in college, Landry worked as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy

OnAir Post: Jeff Landry – LA

News

About

Source: Government

Jeff Landry - LAA principled story of hard work and service to others.

St. Martinville, the small town Jeff called home, has a church at its heart. It’s where his parents taught Jeff and his siblings about faith, standing up for what you believe in, and caring for others. His mother was a school teacher, and his Dad was a small-town architect.

Jeff grew up through the oil bust of the 80s, which turned middle-class families like his into families struggling to get by. Times were tough. But they had faith, they had each other, and there was always room at the dinner table for a friend or neighbor in need.

His mother raised the Landry children to understand that quality education and hard work were the pathways to a better future. Jeff went to work right after high school in the sugar cane fields – and proudly joined the National Guard. Having joined the Louisiana Army National Guard while still in high school, Jeff Landry served his country and the people of Louisiana for eleven years. Over his decade-plus years of service, Jeff became a decorated veteran of Desert Storm. He also received the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, a National Defense Ribbon, and the Louisiana War Cross.

Understanding the importance of education, Jeff returned home after he fulfilled his commitment to our country and worked through college by continuing to serve others as a local police officer and sheriff’s deputy. Working in law enforcement, Jeff saw the best and the worst a community has to offer and worked every day to protect the most vulnerable.

After graduating from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he started his own oil and gas environmental service company. He also served as the executive director of the St. Martin Parish Economic Development Authority. During this time, Jeff heard from many local job creators that over-regulation from burdensome government officials imposes hefty costs upon small businesses across Louisiana.

That’s why Jeff decided to go to law school – to stand up for business owners and help them succeed in the face of big government. He took night classes and worked during the day until graduating from Loyola University in 2004.

From digging ditches to Desert Storm. From patrolling the beat to passing the bar exam. Jeff Landry walked in the shoes of people who struggle more than they should in a state as blessed as this one. 

But that life experience turned a regular guy, a political outsider involved in his community, into a national leader that shocked the Louisiana political establishment when he ran for and won a seat in Congress.

As a Congressman, Jeff Landry stood up for what we believe in and was named one of the top five most conservative members of Congress. Still, Jeff also cast more bi-partisan votes than any other member from Louisiana at that time because Jeff will always do what’s right – not what’s politically popular.

And as your Attorney General – that has not changed. Jeff Landry has worked tirelessly to stem the opioid crisis, prosecute welfare fraud, and restructure and reform the Department of Justice. Jeff battles every day to protect your Constitutional rights and successfully prosecute dangerous criminals that harm the good people of Louisiana’s quality of life.

Jeff embraced the responsibility to protect this state, her culture, her values, her people, and her children. During his time in office, Jeff Landry has helped reform Louisiana’s Department of Justice, which he leads. He created the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to fight crime and the Louisiana Solicitor General’s office to handle major Litigation, including national cases that impact Louisiana as they made their way to the United States Supreme Court.

Whether in Washington D.C. or in Baton Rouge, he is a fearless advocate for the Constitution and a champion for the Louisiana he loves. Jeff Landry is running for Governor of Louisiana because he knows that we deserve a government as good as our people, and we’re not getting it.

He and his wife, Sharon, are raising their son, J.T., in Acadiana, just miles from where Jeff grew up.

Personal

Full Name: Jeff Landry

Gender: Male

Family: Wife: Sharon; 1 Child: J.T.

Birth Date: 12/23/1970

Birth Place: Saint Martinville, LA

Home City: Acadiana, LA

Religion: 

JD, Loyola University, 2001-2004

BS, Environmental and Sustainable Resources, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1999

Catholic

Source: Vote Smart

Education

JD, Loyola University, 2001-2004

BS, Environmental and Sustainable Resources, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1999

Political Experience

Attorney General, State of Louisiana, 2016-present

Candidate, Governor of Louisiana, 2023

Candidate, Louisiana Attorney General, 2019

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 3, 2012

Representative, United States House of Representatives, Louisiana, District 3, 2010-2012

Professional Experience

Former Aide, Louisiana State Senate

Former Sheriff’s Deputy, Saint Martin Parish

Former Executive Director, Saint Martin Parish Economic Development Authority

Former Police Officer, Village of Parks

Sergeant, Louisiana Army National Guard, 1987-1998

Web Links

Politics

Source: none

Finances

Source: Open Secrets

New Legislation

Issues

Source: Campaign page

A FEARLESS CHAMPION OF OUR VALUES

Pro-Life and Pro-Family

Louisiana is proudly one of the most pro-life states in the nation, with over 70% of Louisianans supporting the rights of the unborn. Louisiana’s values are Jeff’s values, that’s why he has been an unwavering defender of life, especially in the face of adversity.

Jeff Landry is a fearless champion for Louisiana’s right-to-life laws and leads the national conversation to support the most vulnerable among us. In Congress, Jeff earned a 100% rating from National Right to Life. As our Attorney General, Jeff Landry has continued the vital work of protecting the unborn. 

In its landmark opinion, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed with Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry – overturning Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. With authority on this issue returned to the state, Landry protected innocent lives by jumping into action and defending Louisiana law.

PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES

Law and Order

Sadly, crime has taken hold today while incompetent mayors and “woke” district attorneys are playing a dangerous game of “catch and release.” In New Orleans, people are scared to pump gas or walk to their cars. Our capital city has one of the highest murder rates in the nation. And other cities around our state aren’t far behind. Jeff believes every family deserves a safe neighborhood, and if those chosen to run these cities won’t protect their citizens, then real leaders need to step in.

Jeff Landry has dedicated his professional life to protecting Louisiana families from crime. Jeff worked through college as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy. While working in law enforcement, Jeff saw the best and the worst a community has to offer. With firsthand experience and a unique perspective on the complexities of how Louisiana law intersects with law enforcement, Jeff Landry has worked to protect the people of Louisiana.

As Attorney General, Jeff established the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) within the Department of Justice. This new focus on fighting crime has helped the Louisiana Department of Justice apprehend criminals and assist other law enforcement agencies. Under Landry’s leadership, Louisiana is fighting against the surge of illegal immigration and working with federal officials to pursue fugitives and take criminals off the streets.

EXPECTING MORE FROM OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

Putting Children First and Protecting Parents’ Rights

Raised in a middle-class St. Martinville family, Jeff Landry learned that quality education and hard work were the pathways to a better future. As loving parents, Jeff and his wife Sharon believe that protecting Louisiana’s children and preserving the integrity of their education is a top priority.

As the son of a school teacher, Jeff Landry is worried that 74% percent of Louisiana fourth graders can’t read as well as they should, and nearly 80% of our eighth graders can’t do basic math. Throwing more money at a broken system that lacks accountability is not the answer, and Jeff knows that parents are the most critical voices in a child’s education.

When faced with elementary school mask mandates and forced COVID vaccinations on school children, Jeff Landry stood strong, defending children and protecting parents’ rights from the “woke” mob.

TAKING ON BIG-GOVERNMENT

Cutting Taxes and Red Tape

After starting a successful business with a friend, Jeff saw firsthand the impact of government regulations on local small businesses. That’s when he decided to go to law school to learn how to help job creators stand up to big government.

As a small business owner, Jeff Landry knows how heavy-handed regulation from Baton Rouge and Washington D.C. threatens Louisiana jobs and hurts our local small businesses. Jeff is fighting to create new jobs and provide additional training to Louisiana’s workers.

Jeff earned a 100% rating in Congress from America’s largest small business organization, the National Federation of Independent Business. As Louisiana Attorney General, Jeff Landry has a proven record of standing up for Louisiana business owners to help them succeed in the face of big government. As Governor, Jeff will work to lower taxes for working families and cut job-killing red tape because he believes your family should keep more of your hard-earned money, not the government.

SUPPORTING LOUISIANA OIL AND GAS

Defending American Energy Independence

Jeff Landry grew up in the heart of the oil patch through the oil bust of the 80s, which turned middle-class families like his into families struggling to get by. Times were tough, but Louisiana always survives.

Today, the left wing’s radical anti-oil-and-gas agenda is killing Louisiana jobs, hurting Louisiana families, and driving our energy prices through the roof. Jeff Landry is fighting the Biden Administration to unleash Louisiana’s oil and gas production and bring back America’s energy independence.

PROTECTING OUR RIGHT TO PROTECT THOSE WE LOVE

Defending the 2nd Amendment

Jeff Landry is a defender of the Second Amendment and a tireless advocate for our constitutional right to bear arms. Jeff grew up hunting and fishing in South Louisiana, so he was raised to respect firearms and learned how to use them properly. 

During his military service and his career in law enforcement, he received countless hours of professional firearms training and education. This real-world experience enables Jeff to be an effective defender of our Constitutional Rights to protect ourselves and those we love.

In Congress and as Attorney General, Jeff Landry fought and won countless battles to defend our Second Amendment rights. Because Jeff understands these rights “shall not be infringed.”

CONNECTING LOUISIANA

Expanding Broadband Internet Access

The inability of our friends and neighbors to access the internet is a growing problem. Telehealth, telework, and online classes demand broadband expansion, and the pandemic made it even more urgent than ever to bridge the digital divide in underserved areas.

Forty-two percent of Louisiana families do not have high-speed internet access, and over 400,000 Louisiana families have no internet connection. As Governor, Jeff will make sure Louisianans without broadband access receive the same educational and work opportunities that those with high-speed internet already enjoy.

PRIORITIZING HURRICANE RECOVERY

Holding Insurance Companies Accountable

Growing up in Louisiana, Jeff knows hurricanes aren’t a question of if, but when. During these dark, trying times, we see the best Louisiana has to offer. We see our communities band together, neighbors helping neighbors to clean up, dry out, and rebuild.

Far too often, the missing link in the recovery chain is predatory insurance companies, running Louisiana families around in circles and delaying our recovery. It’s been over a year since historic storms ravaged areas of south Louisiana and yet, our people still live under blue tarps. Jeff will work to hold these companies accountable and fight for Louisiana families.

REFORMING OUR BROKEN SYSTEMS

Modernizing Louisiana’s Outdated Constitution

Our state’s constitution has been amended hundreds of times in just over 45 years, with more than 13,000 words on how the state government should spend your money. The amendments include countless funding dedications that ensure every special interest gets their slice of your families’ hard-earned money. On taxes, the long list of amendments ties lawmakers’ hands making it difficult to make cuts.

Together, these hundreds of amendments prevent lawmakers from doing their constitutional duty. I know we can rise to the occasion and agree on much-needed revisions to set future generations on an economic path to success. While not all of Louisiana’s problems can be blamed on our state constitution, it clearly stands in the way of efforts to enact many crucial reforms Louisiana desperately needs.

More Information

Wikipedia

Jeffrey Martin Landry (born December 23, 1970) is an American politician and attorney who has served since 2024 as the 57th governor of Louisiana. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th attorney general of Louisiana from 2016 to 2024 and as the U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2013.

Born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, Landry graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard, which he joined while in high school, for 11 years. While in college, Landry worked as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy. He ran for a seat in the Louisiana State Senate in 2007 but narrowly lost. He was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2010, serving one term until he lost his seat after redistricting.

Landry defeated incumbent Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell in 2015, and was reelected four years later with over 66% of the vote. During his tenure, he supported Louisiana’s abortion ban, advocated for prayer in public schools, and challenged Governor John Bel Edwards on LGBT issues. Landry won the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election with a majority of the vote in the first round.

Early life and education

Landry was born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, on December 23, 1970, to Al and Edna (née Bienvenu) Landry. His mother was a teacher at Trinity Catholic School in St. Martinville. His father was an architect and businessman.[1]

Landry received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in environmental and sustainable resources with a minor in biology. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.[2]

Military service

Landry served in the United States Army from 1987 to 1998. He served in the Louisiana National Guard and was stationed at Fort Hood during Operation Desert Storm. He was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant.[2][3]

Early career

Landry is a former St. Martin Parish sheriff’s deputy and a former police officer in Parks, Louisiana. During his time as a St. Martin Parish deputy, he shared a rental home in St. Martinville with two friends, one a childhood friend, and the other a fellow deputy. The fellow deputy smuggled about $10,000 worth of cocaine and stashed it underneath their home. Once his roommates caught on to the crime, they turned him into the police, who executed a search warrant, which Landry signed. The home was searched, and his roommate lost his job and went to prison. Landry remained on as a reserve deputy until 2004.[4][5]

Until his election as attorney general in 2015, Landry was an attorney and small business owner in New Iberia.[2]

2007 State Senate election

In 2007, Landry ran for Louisiana’s 22nd Senate district when incumbent Republican state senator Craig Romero was term-limited. In the general election, he faced Democratic state Representative Troy Hebert of Jeanerette; Hebert later declared himself an Independent. Hebert defeated Landry, 51% to 49%.[6] At the time the district had a 3-to-1 Democratic majority.[2]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

A lifelong Republican,[2] Landry entered the race to represent Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district after Democratic incumbent Charlie Melancon relinquished the seat to run for U.S. Senate. Landry won his party’s nomination in the October 2, 2010, a runoff election, defeating former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives Hunt Downer of Houma, Louisiana, 19,657 votes to 10,549 votes (65%–35%).[7]

2012

Landry during the 112th Congress

Louisiana lost a congressional district due to out-migration during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Landry’s district was dismantled and its territory split among three neighboring districts.[8] Landry was drawn into the same district as fellow Republican Charles Boustany of the neighboring 7th District. The new district retained Landry’s district number—the 3rd—but geographically and demographically was more Boustany’s district; Landry retained only the western third of his old district.

Citizens United and Phyllis Schlafly‘s Eagle Forum political action committee endorsed Landry.[9] He led Boustany in third-quarter 2011 fundraising, $251,000 to $218,000. According to the Federal Election Commission, Boustany led in cash on hand, $1.1 million–$402,000.[10]

In the November 6 election, Landry trailed Boustany by 45,596 votes. Boustany led the five-candidate field with 139,123 votes (44.7%); Landry received 93,527 (30%). Democrat Ron Richard procured 67,070 votes (21.5%); and 7,908 votes (2.5%) and 3,765 votes (1.2%) were cast for Republican Bryan Barrilleaux and Libertarian Jim Stark, respectively. Because none of the candidates received a majority, Boustany and Landry went into a runoff contest held on December 8.[11]

Boustany defeated Landry with 58,820 votes (60.9%), to Landry’s 37,764 (39.1%). Landry prevailed in three of the ten parishes in the revised district, all of which he then represented, including his home parish of St. Martin, his residence of Iberia, and St. Mary Parish.[12]

Tenure

During his tenure in Congress, Landry was known as an advocate for the oil and natural gas industry. He heavily criticized President Obama, saying, “Republicans continue to criticize the president for being anti-oil. He says that’s not true, but his actions don’t match his rhetoric.”[13]

Landry made national headlines by holding up a sign saying “Drilling=jobs” during Obama’s national jobs plan speech in September 2011.[14][15] After the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Landry opposed the liability cap on BP while supporting the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project.[16]

On June 4, 2012, in a radio program produced by the American Center for Law and Justice, Landry said that the Obama administration was “granting special status or waivers to Muslims as they go through TSA screenings.”[17] The Transportation Security Administration does not grant any religious exemptions to Muslims.[18]

In July 2012, Landry made local headlines when he declared his opposition to the establishment of a minor field in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He wrote to the university’s president, Joe Savoie, “As our nation continues to struggle with high unemployment, higher education’s primary mission should be ensuring current and future students have the tools necessary to compete in the 21st century economy.” Landry also criticized the new minor as an unnecessary use of taxpayer funding.[19] Savoie refused to drop the course, writing in a blog post that the program “did not require budgetary allocations or divert resources from other areas” and adding: “Our desired posture is to be neither advocate nor adversary on controversial social issues of the day. Rather, our responsibility is to provide in an impartial manner an opportunity for investigation, analysis, and understanding.”[20]

Attorney General of Louisiana

Elections

2015

On February 24, 2014, Landry announced his challenge to Caldwell, who was first elected in 2007 as a Democrat.[21] The Democratic nominee, Geri Broussard Baloney, an African-American lawyer from Garyville, endorsed Landry in the runoff contest. After he assumed office, Landry named Baloney’s daughter, Quendi Baloney, to a position in his administration. The Baton Rouge Advocate questioned whether the appointment was made on merit or for political reasons. Landry defended his choice by citing the education and experience of Ms. Baloney, a graduate of George Washington University and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law who was formerly employed by the United States Department of Justice. She investigated housing discrimination by Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. Baloney and her colleagues secured a $2.7 million settlement from Sterling.[22]

2019

In August 2018, Landry indicated that he might forego his bid for reelection as attorney general in 2019 and instead challenge Governor John Bel Edwards, who was seeking a second term. Landry said that people everywhere approached him and urged him to seek the governorship. He said he might run unless U.S. Senator John N. Kennedy decided to enter the race, and called upon interested Republican candidates to announce their intentions. Landry had broken with Edwards on numerous political issues, including a 2018 voter referendum on requiring unanimous jury consent for felony convictions, rather than 10 of 12 jurors. Only Louisiana and Oregon have the lower threshold.[23]

In November, Landry announced that he would not run for governor but instead seek reelection as attorney general.[24]

Landry chairs the Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority, which targeted “Republican in Name Only” (RINO) state legislators in the 2019 elections. He has said he wants party faithful to rally around conservative orthodoxy, rather than a big tent.[25]

On October 12, 2019, Landry was reelected by a 2–1 margin.[26]

In December 2022, an investigation by The Advocate revealed that, starting in 2017, Landry misspent campaign funds on part of a car note on a Chevrolet Suburban.[27] The Louisiana Board of Ethics decided not to take any action on the matter because the statute of limitations for action had expired. The $322 monthly payments ended in 2019 and totaled about $11,600.[28]

Tenure

Abortion

Landry opposes access to abortion, and argued in favor of Louisiana’s abortion ban. He recommended that anyone who disagrees with the policy, without exception for rape or incest or age, move to another state.[29][30]

In August 2022, Landry twice urged the Louisiana State Bond Commission to delay funding for a power station that charges drainage pumps in New Orleans over the city’s decriminalization of abortion following the state’s near-total ban of abortion in July 2022.[31] In September 2022, the commission approved the funding despite Landry’s objections.[32]

Antitrust

Landry has urged bipartisan cooperation on antitrust enforcement, and endorsed President Joe Biden‘s nomination of Jonathan Kanter as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division.[33]

Common Core

Soon after taking office as attorney general, Landry became embroiled in a public dispute with Governor Edwards over a lawsuit regarding the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which both men opposed. Edwards said the state would drop the appeal of a federal lawsuit to block the implementation of Common Core, declaring the lawsuit moot because of new federal legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act, and a state legislative compromise agreed upon in 2015, the last year of the Bobby Jindal administration. Landry first replied that he would review the case and could proceed with the appeal to the federal court. Edwards wrote to Landry: “As in any case the client, not the attorney, should ultimately make the decisions on the course of action, and I have decided this case will not proceed.”[34] A few days later, Landry announced that, having reviewed the matter, he would defer to Edwards and drop the suit.[35]

LGBT issues

In September 2016, Landry announced that he would block Edwards’s attempt to require that state contracts protect gay and lesbian employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Edwards sued Landry over his refusal to approve the contracts. In a press conference, Landry vowed, “I will not cower to executive overreach; rather, I will continue to defend our Constitution and the will of the people.” On December 14, 2016, Judge Todd Hernandez of Baton Rouge declared Edwards’s order unconstitutional even though Edwards maintained that his directive exempted contractors who are also tied to religious organizations. Landry claimed that Edwards’s directive would have established a new “protected class” that does not exist in state law. Landry had already successfully blocked dozens of legal services contracts that included the gay-rights language.[36] He told radio talk show host Moon Griffon that he hoped his legal victory over Edwards would persuade him not to attempt to govern by executive orders to the extent that President Barack Obama did.[37]

In March 2017, Edwards announced that he would appeal the LGBT case Landry won before Judge Hernandez. In a speech in West Monroe before the Ouachita Republican Women, Landry said that Edwards was “playing petty politics” by seeking cuts in the attorney general’s office budget while state highways “continue to fail” and that U.S. News & World Report declared that Louisiana is “back to being 50th again” and was ranked “the worst state”. Landry also said that Edwards voted for most of the Jindal administration’s budgets yet continued to claim that he is blameless for the state’s ongoing budget crisis, which he sought to resolve by raising taxes.[38]

Local control

In 2016, Landry became embroiled in a dispute with Mitch Landrieu, the Democratic mayor of New Orleans, over failed efforts to curtail street crime in New Orleans. Landry named a task force on the issue without consulting the Louisiana State Police or the New Orleans Police Department. He claimed that crime in New Orleans is “more dangerous than Chicago”. NOPD Superintendent Michael S. Harrison said that Landry had ignored the city home rule charter and did not have the authority “to engage in active law enforcement in New Orleans.” Landrieu claimed that Landry’s task force had placed state troopers’ and city police officers’ lives in jeopardy.[39]

Budget dispute

In April 2017, Landry again filed suit against Edwards; this time, he disputed the freezing of $4 million in an escrow fund obtained from a pharmaceutical settlement in 2013, when Buddy Caldwell was state attorney general. Landry claimed that his office was entitled to the funds because it must generate revenues to meet a portion of its own budget. Edwards replied that Landry was fighting budget cuts that have also been imposed on other state offices. “It’s another dog and pony show”, Edwards said of the suit. Landry called Edwards “an emperor … a predictable and vindictive Washington-style politician more concerned with political points than the people’s business. By playing petty partisan politics, the governor is jeopardizing the operations of the Louisiana Department of Justice.”[40] Three months later, Landry withdrew the suit, which became moot after State Senator Bret Allain, vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee, brokered a compromise that transferred $2.7 million to Landry’s office operations.[41]

DACA

In July 2017, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a group of Republican attorneys general from nine other states, including Louisiana, as well as Idaho Governor Butch Otter, in threatening the Donald Trump administration that they would litigate if Trump did not terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that President Obama had put into place. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery reversed his position and withdrew his participation in the proposed suit on August 31. Slatery went further, urging passage of the DREAM Act.[42][43]

Religious views

In April 2018, Landry joined U.S. Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana’s 4th congressional district and Christian actor Kirk Cameron to argue under the First Amendment for student-led prayer and religious expression in public schools. Landry and Johnson appeared with Cameron on a promotional video and at prayer rallies at the First Baptist Church of Minden and Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City. The gatherings were organized by area pastors, including Brad Jurkovich of First Baptist Bossier, in response to a lawsuit filed in February against the Bossier Parish School Board and the superintendent, Scott Smith. The board and the superintendent were accused of allowing teachers to incorporate various aspects of Christianity in their class presentations.[44]

NAAG presidency

In 2018, Landry was elected to a one-year term as president of the National Association of Attorneys General.[45] In 2019, NAAG urged the attorneys general of every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and all five U.S. territories to support a bill, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (H.R. 1595), sponsored by U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter, that would permit marijuana-related businesses in states and territories to use the banking system. The bill would facilitate collection of taxes levied on the $8.3 billion industry, reduce the danger of operating cash-only businesses, and more effectively monitor the industry. 17 state AGs opposed the measure.[46]

2020 U.S. presidential election

On December 8, 2020, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, where certified results showed Joe Biden the electoral victor over President Trump. Landry joined the lawsuit and an amicus brief filed by the Missouri AG, seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election by challenging election processes in four states Trump lost.[47] 16 other state attorneys general who supported Paxton’s challenge of the election results alleged numerous instances of unconstitutional actions in the four states’ presidential ballot tallies, arguments that had already been rejected in other state and federal courts.[48] In Texas v. Pennsylvania, Paxton asked the United States Supreme Court to invalidate the four states’ combined 62 electoral votes, allowing Trump to be declared the winner of the election.[49] On December 11, the U.S. Supreme Court quickly rejected the suit in an unsigned opinion.[50]

Opposition to COVID-19 vaccine requirement

In 2021, Landry sued the federal government for a requirement that health care workers be vaccinated against COVID-19,[51] calling the requirement an “unconstitutional and immoral attack” on health care workers.[51]

Whistleblower lawsuit

In November 2021, the former district attorney’s office criminal division deputy director, Matthew Derbes, sued Landry, alleging that he not only concealed records instrumental to Derbes’s sexual harassment complaints, but also retaliated against Derbes. The previous year, Derbes filed a complaint against his immediate supervisor, Pat Magee, over his inappropriate treatment of women in the office. According to the suit, investigations were hampered by the office and the complaints were deliberately mischaracterized to avoid the reporting requirements. Additionally, when reporters filed public-records requests, Landry sued and asked a judge to seal all records, something that the editor of The Advocate, Peter Kovacs, characterized as wholly egregious, saying, “In my 40 years as an editor, I’ve never seen a journalist get sued for requesting a public record”.[52] A judge sided with the press and, once new complaints arose against Magee, he resigned. Following the resignation, Landry released a memo with enough publicly identifiable information to expose Derbes as the whistleblower.[53]

Governor of Louisiana

2023 election

On October 5, 2022, Landry launched his campaign for governor of Louisiana in the 2023 election. He was endorsed by the Republican Party of Louisiana and former president Donald Trump.[54][55] In September 2023, the Louisiana Board of Ethics charged Landry with accepting a gift in relation to his position as state attorney general.[56][57] Landry was also accused of accepting private air travel from campaign donors.[58] Furthermore, the charging document claims Landry did not report the complimentary flights in financial disclosures to the Ethics Board. Landry called the charges “election interference” and blamed Governor Edwards, who appoints board members.[59]

Landry was elected governor in the primary election on October 14, 2023, with 52% of the vote, averting a runoff election. His closest competitor, Democrat and former Louisiana transportation secretary Shawn Wilson, received 25% of the vote.[60]

Tenure

On January 7, 2024, Landry took a ceremonial oath and delivered his inaugural address on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol;[61][62][63] the event was held a day before he took office as governor due to expectations for bad weather.[64] The Louisiana state constitution requires gubernatorial terms to begin at noon on the second Monday in January.[64]

In March 2024, Landry signed several bills that reversed criminal justice reforms initiated by the 2017 Justice Reinvestment Initiative.[65] Landry eliminated parole, dramatically cut the ability of convicts to earn points for good behavior in prison, increased penalties for carjackings and weapons offenses, and permitted two more methods of execution (nitrogen gas and electrocution).[66][65] He also signed a bill to allow people to carry concealed handguns without permits.[65]

Personal life

Landry and his wife, the former Sharon LeBlanc, have one son. He and his family are Roman Catholic.

While serving in Congress, Landry kept an apartment in Washington, D.C., while his wife and son resided in Louisiana.[67]

Electoral history

Louisiana State Senate 22nd District Primary Election, 2007
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican“Jeff” Landry13,37535
DemocraticTroy Hebert12,64833
DemocraticSydnie Mae Maraist Durand12,37532
Louisiana State Senate 22nd District Runoff Election, 2007
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticTroy Hebert14,87651
Republican“Jeff” Landry14,30849
Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican“Jeff” Landry19,65765
Republican“Hunt” Downer10,54935
Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District Election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican“Jeff” Landry108,94364
DemocraticRavi Sangisetty61,91436
Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District Primary Election, 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCharles Boustany Jr.139,12345
Republican“Jeff” Landry (inc.)93,52730
Democratic“Ron” Richard67,07022
RepublicanBryan Barrilleaux7,9083
Libertarian“Jim” Stark3,7651
Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District Runoff Election, 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCharles Boustany Jr.58,82061
Republican“Jeff” Landry (inc.)37,76739
Louisiana Attorney General Primary Election, 2015
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJames “Buddy” Caldwell (inc.)376,40735
Republican“Jeff” Landry347,60533
DemocraticGeraldine “Geri” Broussard Baloney187,57518
DemocraticIsaac “Ike” Jackson115,11811
Republican“Marty” Maley37,8304
Louisiana Attorney General Runoff Election, 2015
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican“Jeff” Landry610,45956
RepublicanJames “Buddy” Caldwell (inc.)473,91544
Louisiana Attorney General Election, 2019
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican“Jeff” Landry (incumbent)855,33866
DemocraticIke Jackson436,53134
Louisiana Gubernatorial Election, 2023
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican“Jeff” Landry547,82752
DemocraticShawn Wilson275,52526
RepublicanStephen Waguespack62,2876
RepublicanJohn Schroder56,6545

References

  1. ^ Allen, Rebekah (November 18, 2016). “Attorney General Jeff Landry’s LGBT views panned by brother — a gay man who ‘can’t remain silent’. theadvocate.com. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e “About”. landryforlouisiana.com. landryforlouisina.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  3. ^ “Congressional GOP race hits boiling point”. Daily Comet.
  4. ^ Alford, Jeremy. “Houma Today”. www.houmatoday.com.
  5. ^ “Jeff’s first job out of high school”. naag.org.
  6. ^ “Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007”. electionresults.sos.louisiana.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  7. ^ “Louisiana congressional election returns, October 2, 2010”. Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  8. ^ “Alex Isenstadt, “Jeff Landry wins Louisiana House runoff”, October 2, 2010″. politico.com. October 2, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  9. ^ “Candidates endorsed by Eagle Forum PAC, October 31, 2012”. eagleforum.org. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  10. ^ Catanese, David (November 29, 2011). “Citizens United goes all in for Landry”. Politico.
  11. ^ “Louisiana election returns, November 6, 2012”. staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  12. ^ “Louisiana general election returns, December 8, 2012”. staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Landry criticizes President Obama as “anti-oil”, thehayride.com; accessed March 1, 2014.
  14. ^ Shahid, Aliyah (September 9, 2011). “President Obama’s jobs speech: GOP Rep. Jeff Landry of Louisiana holds sign ‘drilling equals jobs’. Daily News. New York.
  15. ^ “Jeff Landry makes national headlines” Archived September 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, landry.house.gov; September 9, 2011.
  16. ^ Kamen, Al (December 27, 2011). “Jeffrey M. Landry (R-La.)”. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016.
  17. ^ Tashman, Brian (June 4, 2012). “Rep. Jeff Landry Baselessly Claims the Obama Administration offers Muslim Airline Passengers ‘Waivers’ to bypass TSA Screenings”. Right Wing Watch.
  18. ^ “Transcript: Senate hearing on TSA, full-body scanners”. CNET. November 16, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  19. ^ “Congressman Landry asks UL Lafayette president to remove new LGBT minor”. KATC-TV. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  20. ^ “Noisemaker: UL prez addresses LGBT studies minor”. theind.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  21. ^ [1], wdsu.com; accessed March 1, 2014.
  22. ^ Jeff Landry (August 5, 2016). “Advocate distorted my hiring of Quendi Baloney”. The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  23. ^ Gordon Russell (August 5, 2018). “Why AG Jeff Landry favors keeping this controversial law, despite GOP’s support for change”. The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  24. ^ “Jeff Landry Won’t Run for Governor”. WRNO Radio. November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  25. ^ Mark Ballard (August 5, 2018). “Political Horizons: Louisiana Republicans seek one primary color”. The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  26. ^ “Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry easily wins reelection”. theadvocate.com. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  27. ^ writer, SAM KARLIN | Staff (December 16, 2022). “Ethics Board tells Jeff Landry paying car note with campaign cash was wrong, but takes no action”. The Advocate. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  28. ^ White, Lamar; Jr. (December 4, 2017). “The Extra Mile: Jeff Landry charges taxpayers for his drive to work”. Bayou Brief. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  29. ^ writer, SAM KARLIN | Staff (July 8, 2022). “Abortion is banned again in Louisiana after judge denies extension of restraining order”. NOLA.com. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  30. ^ Sam Karlin [@samkarlin] (July 8, 2022). “Speaking after the court hearing today, @AGJeffLandry tells people who disagree with Louisiana’s abortion ban that they can move to another state” (Tweet). Retrieved July 10, 2022 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ Wittenburg, Ariel (August 19, 2022). “Louisiana officials stall New Orleans flood funds over abortion”. Politico. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  32. ^ Wittenburg, Ariel (September 15, 2022). “Louisiana officials approve flood funds stalled over abortion”. E&E News. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  33. ^ “Both parties must work together to take on tech monopolies | Opinion”. Newsweek. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  34. ^ Greg Hilburn (February 6, 2016). “Gov. Edwards to AG Landry: Butt out”. The Monroe News-Star. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  35. ^ “Landry drops fight with Edwards over Common Core lawsuit”. The Monroe News-Star. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  36. ^ “Louisiana: Attorney General Jeff Landry Wins Battle to Overturn Governor’s Pro-LGBT Executive Order”. datalounge.com. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  37. ^ The Moon Griffon Show, December 20, 2016
  38. ^ Greg Hilburn (March 6, 2017). “Attorney general: Gov. Edwards ‘playing petty politics’. The Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  39. ^ Jim Mustian and Matt Sledge (January 7, 2017). “Attorney General Jeff Landry slams Mitch Landrieu, says New Orleans ‘more dangerous than Chicago’. The New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  40. ^ Elizabeth Crisp (April 11, 2017). “AG Jeff Landry sues Gov. John Bel Edwards, who calls lawsuit ‘another dog and pony show’. The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  41. ^ Melinda Deslatte (July 7, 2017). “Attorney general dropping lawsuit against governor”. The Monroe News-Star. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  42. ^ Tennessee’s attorney general: I’ve changed my mind, DACA is good, pass the DREAM Act, Vox.com, Dara Linddara, September 1, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  43. ^ Texas leads 10 states in urging Trump to end Obama-era immigration program, Texas Tribune, Julián Aguilar, June 29, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  44. ^ Nick Wooten (April 6, 2018). “Actor Kirk Cameron makes promo video for Bossier, Webster prayer rallies”. The Shreveport Times. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  45. ^ New President of NAAG, Louisiana AG Jeff Landry, Begins Initiative to Prepare Attorneys General across the U.S. for Major Disasters and Mass Incidents, National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  46. ^ Attorneys general from 33 states urge banking reform for pot industry, Associated Press, May 8, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  47. ^ Missouri, Kansas sign onto lawsuit seeking to overturn presidential election, Kansas City Star, Bryan Lowry, December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  48. ^ Trump thought courts were key to winning. Judges disagreed, Associated Press, Coleen Long and Ed White, December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  49. ^ “Trump thought courts were key to winning. Judges disagreed”. AP NEWS. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  50. ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). “Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  51. ^ a b Hilburn, Greg. “Louisiana federal judge blocks nationwide COVID vaccine mandate for health care workers”. The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  52. ^ Russell, Gordon (February 7, 2021). “Attorney General Jeff Landry sues Advocate reporter over public-records request”. The Advocate.
  53. ^ Gallo, Andrea (November 11, 2021). “Jeff Landry accused of retaliating against whistleblower and defaming him in new lawsuit”. The Advocate.
  54. ^ writer, SAM KARLIN | Staff (November 7, 2022). “LA GOP endorses Jeff Landry for governor early, drawing blowback from two rivals”. The Advocate. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  55. ^ “Former President Donald Trump endorses Jeff Landry in La Governor race”. wwltv.com. May 8, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  56. ^ “Gubernatorial frontrunner Jeff Landry facing ethics charge”. www.audacy.com. September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  57. ^ “2022-455- Charges[85].pdf”. Google Docs. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  58. ^ writer, SAM KARLIN | Staff (September 4, 2023). “Jeff Landry’s use of campaign donor jets raises reporting questions”. The Advocate. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  59. ^ “Facebook”. www.facebook.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  60. ^ Montellaro, Zach (October 14, 2023). “Landry wins Louisiana governor’s race, flipping state red”. POLITICO. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  61. ^ “READ: Gov. Jeff Landry’s inauguration speech”. Louisiana Illuminator. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  62. ^ writer, TYLER BRIDGES | Staff (December 23, 2022). “One lap to go: John Bel Edwards looks to his final year with a full slate of plans”. NOLA.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  63. ^ “Jeff Landry’s inauguration moved to Sunday at 4:30 p.m. because of expected severe weather”. AP News. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  64. ^ a b “Landry takes oath Sunday but he’ll become Louisiana’s new governor Monday”. WBRZ. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  65. ^ a b c Finn, James (March 5, 2024). “Jeff Landry signs bills to expand Louisiana death penalty, eliminate parole”. NOLA.com.
  66. ^ [2]
  67. ^ “Jeff Landry plans returns to Louisiana, December 23, 2012”. Shreveport Times. Retrieved December 24, 2012.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district

2011–2013
Succeeded by

Legal offices
Preceded by

Attorney General of Louisiana
2016–2024
Succeeded by

Party political offices
Preceded by

Republican nominee for Governor of Louisiana
2023
Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by

Governor of Louisiana
2024–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

as Vice President

Order of precedence of the United States
Within Louisiana
Succeeded by

Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by

Otherwise Mike Johnson

as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

Preceded by

as Governor of Ohio

Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Louisiana
Succeeded by

as Governor of Indiana


X

Jeff Landry – LA

Current Position: Louisiana Governor since 2023
Affiliation: Republican

Jeff Landry is an attorney who is the governor-elect of Louisiana, having been elected in 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he has served since 2016 as the 45th attorney general of Louisiana and as the U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2013.

Born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, Landry graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard, which he joined while still in high school, for 11 years. While in college, Landry worked as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy

OnAir Post: Jeff Landry – LA

John Bel Edwards- LA

Current Position: Governor since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 2006 – 2015

Featured Quote: 
In light of Louisiana’s troubling COVID-19 trends in cases and hospitalizations, @LaDeptHealth
is issuing the following additional guidance to the public today. #lagov

Featured Video: 
Gov. Edwards Press Conference | 07/30/2021

OnAir Post: John Bel Edwards- LA

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