When Tip O’Neill, a Massachusetts congressman, was Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1977- ’87), he once made a statement that is now legendary as a political truth. His words: “All politics is local.”
In this, an election year, when all of the 435 House seats nationwide have been up for re-election, the candidates have had to face the big national issues: the economy; Iran; global warming and whatever else is on the voter’s plate. But, O’Neill knew that what effects voters the most are the issues that are the closest to their everyday lives; such as street repairs, taxes, social security, healthcare and crime.
Of the 435 House members there are two in particular who not only carry their local district’s burden, but also the national bucket list. Both are from Louisiana.
Leadership in the House is controlled by whichever party is in the majority. After an internal equivalent of an intra party street fight in 2023 when the incumbent Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, was voted out, little known Mike Johnson, a congressman from the little town of Benton (near Shreveport), emerged as the choice for party leader. Second Place went to the better-known Steve Scalise, from Metairie, who had once been a Speaker contender, and who has a reputation as a skilled legislator. (He was also one of several congress members to be a target of a mass shooting at a congressional softball practice in 2017. He has survived that, as well as one of congress’s toughest jobs as majority leader.)
Nov. 3 is the national federal election, which could create a change in congressional leadership. All House seats have been up for reelection, though most are already filled by returning incumbents. The balance of power is in a few undecided seats.
Half of 435 rounds to 218, which is the number of seats that a party needs to win to take control of the House. Currently half, 218, are held by Republicans. Democrats control 213. Then there are 4 vacancies, and one Independent, which could make the difference, coupled with party shifts in some of the districts.
Johnson was first elected to Congress in 2016. He is an Louisiana State University law school graduate. I remember thinking at the time of his election that he seemed competent and could be a “rising star.” No one imagined that his star would rise so brightly so fast. For all the seasoned politicians to have come from Louisiana only two have reached the top leadership pinnacles in their branch of government; Jonson and former Supreme Court Chief Justice (1910- ’21) Edward Douglas White.
Neither Jonson nor Scalise are threatened for re-election to their House seats, so their political fortunes will be influenced by the elections in the other districts nationwide. Tip O’Neil was right – all politics is local. Especially when it comes to determining a Speaker of the House, local is defined in 435 different places.
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To contact Errol, email elabordenola@gmail.com!
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS: Errol’s Laborde’s new book, “When Rex Met Zulu: And Other Chronicles of the New Orleans Experience,” (Pelican Publishing Company, 2024) is now available at local bookstores and websites.
Laborde’s other recent publications: “New Orleans: The First 300 Years” and “Mardi Gras: Chronicles of the New Orleans Carnival” (Pelican Publishing Company, 2017 and 2013), are available at the same locations.
