Not only will Congressman Steve Scalise's party be in the minority when the new Congress is sworn in this January, he won't even be in a leadership position in his party. But Louisiana may not be completely without high-level influence these next couple of years.
There is only one Democrat from Louisiana who will be part of the 120th Congress -- New Orleans' representative Troy Carter. Carter is considered to be one of the front-runners to chair the Congressional Black Caucus.
La Politics Weekly editor and publisher Jeremy Alford says that is a major position of influence.
"This is someone who will be meeting with the new Speaker of the House on a regular basis in the lower chamber," said Alford. "He's going to be communicating with the speaker on a regular basis. He'll have some influence, maybe, over the way bills can come up."
As for Scalise, while he may no longer be part of his party's leadership, he is entering his eleventh term in the House.
Steve Scalise loses Minority Leader position to Ohio's Jim Jordan
Louisiana also lost the House speakership with Democrats winning the majority. Republican Mike Johnson did not seek a leadership role in the party after the GOP loses control in January.
