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M C Bank recently donated to Christmas in the Swamp. Pictured are Jason Pye, Tessie Dubois, Brennan Daniels and Joyce Williams (M C Bank) and Den Hussey and Samantha Hussey (Crossing Place Church).

Some folks are still sitting around trying to figure out how Gov. John Bel Edwards won a second term and shut down a challenge from Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone. Others are still wondering why the GOP secured a supermajority in the Senate but not in the House.
Then there are those who either scratch out a living, make money from or spend money on Louisiana politics. Lobbyists, consultants, elected officials and the like are a few steps ahead and looking as far down the line as possible.
Here are nine Baton Rouge-based factors they’re sweating that perhaps you should sweat as well.
1.) Who Dat?
Build a chart or make some flashcards or start handing out name tags. Do something. Because when the 72nd Legislature is seated in January, there are going to dozens of new elected faces in the House and Senate.
To be precise, next term will host 64 true rookies.
2.) Speaker election
The following text message was sent to House members last week by Majority Leader Lance Harris of Alexandria: “I wanted to let you know I am running for Speaker of the House. With a conservative majority in the House and a supermajority in the Senate, I’m excited to see the changes we can accomplish over the next 4 years. I want to set up a time to meet to discuss my strategic plan and how we can implement these changes. I’ll be contacting you soon to set up a convenient time for us to meet. Thanks a million! Lance”
While that represented the latest move for the House’s big gavel, it’s not the only one. Given how much time his team has put into his bid, plus his sizable war chest, Rep. Stuart Bishop of Lafayette is another top contender to watch.
Others said to be making moves include Reps. Stephen Dwight of Lake Charles, Ray Garofalo of Chalmette, Barry Ivey of Central, Sherman Mack of Denham Springs, Tanner Magee of Houma, Jack McFarland of Jonesboro, Clay Schexnayder of Gonzales and Alan Seabaugh of Shreveport.
3.) Senate president election
You may have forgotten that the Senate changed its rules recently for future leadership elections. That means January’s nominations for president will transpire by secret ballot.
The Advocate reported that Sen. Page Cortez of Lafayette has enough votes to win the election. Sen. Bret Allain of Franklin was also considered a contender.
4.) New administration
Will Gov. John Bel Edwards or his administration play in the House and Senate leadership elections? Given the headcount on Republicans, and how the House speaker’s race went in 2016, it’ll be interesting to see what strategy emerges.
Will the Edwards Administration be replacing any department secretaries next year? Are any cabinet officials or top staffers looking to make an exit ahead of 2020?
There may be a small handful of changes on the staffing side, based on nothing else but historic turnover. (For more, see the second terms of Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal.)
5.) Chairmanships
There’s no such thing as second place in Louisiana politics, but sometimes there are terrific consolation prizes.
Not everyone running for speaker or president will become speaker or president, nor do they all truly want to be speaker or president. Standing as a candidate is a solid route to a plum position, like leading Appropriations or Finance.
The administration certainly knows it will get little to no help out of the House, which will be aggressively conservative next term.
6.) The term's tone
Speaking to the AP, political scientist Dr. Albert Samuels said, “Gov. (John Bel) Edwards will face probably the most conservative legislature in 100 years.”
We all thought the current term got nasty. This upcoming four-year stint could be worse, and we’ll likely see it first in January’s leadership races.
7.) Redistricting
State legislators will be charged with personally redrawing Louisiana’s election lines in 2021. What could go wrong?
8.) JBE 3.0
Make no mistake about it: Gov. John Bel Edwards is a Democratic superstar. He also showed us this cycle that he may be one of the best debaters among Louisiana’s governors, so there’s no stage too big or too small he can’t handle.
Thing is, national Democrats are about to start knocking on the door of the man who campaigned as the anti-Bobby Jindal.
Will Edwards cut his term short to run for the U.S. Senate? Boosters don’t see it, but you never know. Either way, Edwards continues to a rising national star in the Democrat Party, and his stock is on the uptick.
9.) Unexpected developments
Unless Gov. John Bel Edwards pulls a John McKeithen and convinces voters to add a term on for him, he will be out of office come January 2024.
So we can probably expect him to swing big this term on issues near and dear to him, based on nothing else but recent second terms. (For more, see the second terms of Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal.)
Will that mean a gutsy move toward tax reform? Another look at constitutional law? We’ll know sooner than later, and many of us can’t wait to learn what’s in store.
Follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter
@LaPoliticsNow.

A Morgan City man was arrested on a warrant for threatening a witness in a pending criminal case. During the arrest, officers found crack cocaine in his possession, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said in a news release.
—Aldwin Renee Cox, 54, of Union Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:54 p.m. Nov. 27 on charges of possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia and on warrants for the charges of intimidation of a witness and aggravated assault.
The warrants stem from a complaint filed with the Morgan City Police Department on Nov. 19. The Morgan City Detective Division received information Cox had threated a witness in a pending criminal case. Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest. On Nov. 27, detectives located Cox at the intersection of Fifth and Everett streets. During the arrest, Cox was found in possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He was jailed.
Blair also reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 54 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Derrick James Leonard, 41, of Freret Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 a.m. Monday on charges of hit and run, criminal damage to property under $1,000 and careless operation of a vehicle. Officers investigating a hit and run accident located the suspect vehicle in the area of Levee Road. The driver was identified as Leonard. Investigating officers were able to identify the vehicle from damage and debris from the scene of the accident. Leonard was jailed.
—Anthony Paul Adams, 35, of Glenwood Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:36 p.m. Nov. 27 on a warrant for a charge of tattooing minors. The warrant stems from a complaint filed with the Morgan City Police Department on Nov. 17.
Detectives with the Morgan City Police Department obtained information Adams tattooed a person under 17 years of age without parental consent and a warrant was obtained for his arrest. On Nov. 27, Adams was located at his residence and placed under arrest. He was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 31 complaints and the following arrests were reported:
—Louis Gerard Green, 27, of Sager Brown Road in Baldwin, was arrested at 9:37 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana and driving under suspension. Deputies were traveling on Middle Road in Bayou Vista when they observed a vehicle with no operable license plate light.
he deputies conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Green. Marijuana belonging to Green was found and dispatch advised the deputies that Green’s license was suspended. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear Feb. 7.
—Michael Lee Jennings, 61, of Tabb Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear for the charge of simple criminal trespass. Deputies went to a residence on Egle Street in reference to Jennings, who held an active warrant for his arrest. The deputies made contact with Jennings and he was jailed with no bail set.
—Tyler Andrew Wilson, 47, of Nini Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:09 a.m. Saturday on a Lafayette Parish warrant for failure to appear for the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Rena Kathleen Wilson, 40, of Nini Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:09 a.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
A deputy went to a residence on Nini Lane in Bayou Vista in reference to T. Wilson, who held an active warrant through Lafayette Parish. The deputy made contact with T. Wilson and advised him of the active warrant for his arrest.
The deputy also made contact with R. Wilson and during the investigation drug paraphernalia belonging to R. Wilson was found. R. Wilson was arrested and released on a summons to appear Feb. 7. T. Wilson was jailed and is being held for transfer to another agency.
—Frankie B. Sauce, 37, of M Street in Patterson, was arrested at Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana and driving on a roadway lined for traffic. A deputy traveling on Road Cypress Road observed a vehicle cross the centerline. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Sauce. During the stop, marijuana belonging to Sauce was found. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear Feb. 7.
—Palmer Cox IV, 54, of Oregon Street in Berwick, was arrested at 1:49 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of use of headlights. A booking deputy made contact with Cox when he transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center from another agency. He was jailed and released on a completed sentence.
—Leslie Paul Johnson, 25, of Judy Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 7:32 p.m. Friday on charges of resisting arrest or officer, possession of a firearm by a felon and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession or firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a convicted felon.
A deputy was dispatched to the area of Dianna Lane in Patterson in reference to shots fired. The deputy made contact with the complainant who stated what happened and soon after, the deputies made contact with Johnson, who fled on foot. Johnson was jailed with no bail set.
—Jade Aucoin, 27, of Renwick Boulevard in Berwick, was arrested at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 27 on a warrant for two counts of failure to appear. Aucoin was surrendered to the Morgan City Police Department by a bonding recovery agency. She was jailed.
—Brianna Mitchell, 24, of Sparrow Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:34 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana, improper display of license plate and expired license plate.
A deputy was traveling west on U.S. 90 in Patterson when he observed a vehicle pass his patrol unit with a license plate partially obstructed by the license plate frame. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Mitchell. Through the investigation, marijuana was found. She was arrested and released on a summons to appear Feb. 7.
—Davonte Javon Williams, 27, of Bowman Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:59 p.m. Monday on a charge of driving under suspension.
A deputy was patrolling the area of U.S. 90 East near Patterson when he observed a vehicle turn left onto Church Street in Patterson in front of vehicles, causing them to throw on their brakes to avoid a collision. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Williams. Through the stop, dispatch advised the deputy that Williams’ license was suspended. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear Feb. 7.
—Stacey Lynn Grubb, 39, of Iberia Street in Franklin, was arrested at 12:40 a.m. Tuesday on charges of theft and on an active warrant through Franklin on the charge of self-mutilation of a prisoner and on a warrant for theft.
A deputy was conducting a walk-through of a local business in Bayou Vista when he observed a female subject who he knew held an active warrant for her arrest exiting the business and departing in a vehicle. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the subject, identified as Grubb. She was jailed with no bail set.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrest:
—Charlie Kelly III, 22, of Sandi Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane usage. Officers were on patrol in the area of U.S. 90 when they observed a vehicle traveling eastbound and swerving in the lane of travel.
Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and the driver was identified as Kelly. While speaking with Kelly, a strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted and officers located marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Kelly was jailed and later released on a $3,750 bond.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:
—Bradley A. Richardson, 20, of Leo Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 2:33 p.m. Monday on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. He was jailed with no bond set.

The U.S. Marine Forces Reserve Band performed a Christmas concert to a packed theater at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium Tuesday night. Entry for the event was free, but unwrapped toys were requested for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive. Residents did not disappoint as they filled all available boxes with toys.