Tomorrow is Election Day, and polls suggest that Democrats will regain control of the House of Representatives.
If that happens, two Louisiana Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, will lose their leadership posts. Does that mean Louisiana will lose influence in Congress?
"Louisiana will still have some influence. It certainly would be diminished," LAPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford said. "Our folks will still be somewhere in the leadership of the Republican Party."
In addition to Johnson and Scalise losing their posts in the majority, Alford notes that Louisiana will lose a spot on the House Appropriations Committee, which decides what states and projects get federal funding because Julia Letlow ran for Senate instead of reelection.
On the flip side, Alford says New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter could find himself as part of the Democratic majority leadership, giving Louisiana an added boost in the House.
"Louisiana could gain some influence in certain respects when you look at someone like a Troy Carter, especially if he gets elected chairman of the Black Caucus. That would be huge for Louisiana," Alford said. "He had launched a bid for chairman of the Black Caucus. That would be an extremely powerful position for anyone to have, especially if Democrats are in control."
Long story short: Louisiana would still have a good deal of influence on Capitol Hill even if Democrats win the majority.
"Louisiana would still be punching well above its weight--certainly not as much as we are now, but we would still be in a good position to have influence and sway."
