Jeremy Alford: Senate Republicans turn to leadership choice

The new Senate Republican Delegation will meet for the first time in Baton Rouge on Thursday, Dec. 14, the same day as the annual Capitol Christmas party in Memorial Hall. Our state senators are certainly hoping for a bit of cheer, but they’ll unlikely unwrap a bit of politics as well.
Just like House Republicans did this week, GOP senators will vote on their next slate of internal officers, including Senate majority leader (interchangeable with the title of delegation chair) next week.
While new and returning House Republicans spent some time this week nominating a speaker and speaker pro tem as well, current Senate GOP Delegation Chair Sharon Hewitt of Slidell said those in the upper chamber will have a “primary agenda item” of electing delegation officers.
Several members interviewed for this column expect a strong bid for Senate majority leader from Sen. Jeremy Stine of Lake Charles. On the House side, as previously reported in this space, Rep. Mark Wright of Covington was an early favorite for House majority leader and was elected to the post this week.
Wright has been in office since 2017 and Stine became a senator in 2021. Neither are facing term limits as they return to the Capitol and both should serve as a political reminder that seniority and clout are no longer exclusively reserved for third-termers. 
As for the top gavels in the Legislature, the nomination of Eunice Rep. Phillip DeVillier for speaker was a formality this week. Although representatives would have been be allowed to proceed with a secret ballot process, no one else was nominated.
Across Memorial Hall, Jefferson Parish Sen. Cameron Henry remains the president designee — thanks in no small part to his close relationship with Gov.-elect Jeff Landry. DeVillier, too, is an ally of the incoming Landry Administration, setting the stage for the governor-elect to direct and star in Capitoland’s policymaking.  
Landry’s influence over the legislative process will be undeniable. He endorsed Henry early, before opposition could solidify, and he quietly leaned toward DeVillier without rocking the proverbial pirogue.
Whether Landry continues to approach legislative relations with a soft touch remains to be seen, but so far lawmakers appreciate the lack of acrimony that defined the past two terms of state government.
That kumbaya vibe also extended into the nomination of Rep. Mike Johnson of Pineville for speaker pro tem. Johnson was the politico who floated the idea of a speaker nomination vote, as a way to avoid a bloody floor battle. Landry backed the idea from the start, and Johnson is now in line to snag a spot in the leadership.
On the Democratic side of the coin in the House, Rep. Matthew Willard of New Orleans will serve as the new Democratic Caucus chair in the new term. The incoming House minority leader is also wrapping up his first term in office — yet another sign of the redistribution of power in Baton Rouge. 
Willard sees an opportunity for Democrats to be policy-driven. He said the Caucus would work to “lower insurance premiums, raise wages, improve education, ensure equal pay for equal work and make our communities safer.”
The organizational session of the Legislature, which will host formal votes for House speaker and Senate president, is scheduled for Jan. 8. 
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