Louisiana State Senate

Upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Louisiana State Senate" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Louisiana State Senate

Louisiana State Legislature
Type
Type|

Upper house

Term limits

| 3 terms (12 years)
History

New session started

| January 8, 2024
Leadership

President

Cameron Henry (R)
since January 8, 2024

President pro tempore

Regina Barrow (D)
since January 8, 2024

Majority Leader

Jeremy Stine (R)
since January 8, 2024

Minority Leader

Gerald Boudreaux (D)
since May 10, 2021

Structure
Seats| 39

Seat display

Map display

Political groups

| Majority

* Republican (28)

Minority

* Democratic (11)

Length of term

| 4 years
Authority| Article III, Section 3, Louisiana Constitution
Salary| $16,800/year plus per diem.
Elections

Last election

| October 14 and November 18, 2023
(39 seats)

Next election

| October 16 and November 20, 2027
(39 seats)
Redistricting| Legislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Louisiana State Capitol
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Website
Louisiana State Senate
Rules
Senate Rules

Politics of Louisiana

Constitution and law

* United States Constitution

* Louisiana Constitution

* Louisiana law

Executive

* Governor Jeff Landry (R)
* State Cabinet

* * *

* Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser (R)

* Secretary of State Nancy Landry (R)

* Attorney General Liz Murrill (R)

* State Treasurer John Fleming (R)

* Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain (R)

* Commissioner of Insurance Timothy Temple (R)

* Public Service Commission

* Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Legislature

* State Senate

* President Cameron Henry (R)

* President pro tempore Regina Barrow (R)

* Majority Leader Jeremy Stine (R)

* Minority Leader Gerald Boudreaux (D)

* * *

* House of Representatives

* Speaker Phillip DeVillier (R)

* Speaker pro tempore Michael T. Johnson (R)

* Majority Leader Mark Wright (Louisiana politician) (R)

* Minority Leader Matthew Willard (D)

* * *

Judiciary

* Supreme Court

*     * Chief Justice John L. Weimer (I)

*     * Justice William J. Crain (R)
* Justice Scott Crichton (R)
* Justice James T. Genovese (R)
* Justice Jay McCallum (R)
* Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III (R)
* Justice Piper D. Griffin (D)

* * *

* Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal
* Louisiana District Courts
* Parish and City Courts
* Mayor's Courts
* Justice of the Peace Courts

Elections

* Nonpartisan primary
* Political parties
* Qualified Louisiana parties
* Democratic Party
* Republican Party
* Green Party
* Reform Party
* Libertarian Party
* National minor parties
* Political party strength

Administrative divisions

* Parishes (64)
* Municipalities (303)
* School districts

Federal representation

* U.S. Senate (list)
* Bill Cassidy (R)
* John Kennedy (R)

* * *

* U.S. House of Representatives (list)
* 1: Steve Scalise (R)
* 2: Troy Carter (D)
* 3: Clay Higgins (R)
* 4: Mike Johnson (R)
* 5: Julia Letlow (R)
* 6: Garret Graves (R)

* Politics of the United States
* Politics portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

The Louisiana State Senate (French: Sénat d'État de Louisiane; Spanish: Senado del Estado de Luisiana) is the upper house of Louisiana’s legislature. Senators serve four-year terms and participate in various committees.

## Composition

[edit]

The Louisiana State Senate has 39 members elected from single-member districts. Candidates must be registered voters, at least 18 years old, residents of their district for one year, and Louisiana residents for two years. Senate elections use a nonpartisan primary system with runoffs if needed. Elections to the Senate occur every four years and senators are limited to three four-year terms (12 years). If a seat is vacated early during a term, it will be filled in a special election. The Senate meets yearly alongside the House of Representatives. General sessions last 60 days in even years, and appropriations sessions last 45 days in odd years.

The Senate is the Upper Legislative Chamber of the Louisiana State Legislature and, along with the Louisiana House of Representatives, is the legislative power of the state of Louisiana. In addition, it tries officials impeached by the House of Representatives and confirms or rejects officials nominated by the governor of Louisiana.

Affiliation  | Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |
Republican | Democratic | Vacant
End of legislature 2011  | 22  | 17  | 39  | 0
Begin 2012  | 24  | 15  | 39  | 0
End of legislature 2015  | 13  | 37  | 2
Begin 2016  | 25  | 14  | 39  | 0
End of legislature 2019
Begin 2020  | 27  | 12  | 39  | 0
End of legislature 2023
Begin 2024  | 28  | 11  | 39  | 0
January 1, 2025[a] | 27  | 38  | 1
January 3, 2025[b] | 10  | 37  | 2
March 11, 2025[c] | 28  | 11  | 39  | 0
Latest voting share  | 71.8%  | 28.2%  |

### Members

[edit]

District  | Name  | Party  | District Office  | First elected  | Eligible for reelection

|
|
|
|
|

1 | Bob Owen | Rep  | Slidell / Chalmette | 2023  | Yes
2 | Edward J. Price | Dem  | Gonzales | 2017  | No
3 | Joseph Bouie | Dem  | New Orleans | 2019  | Yes
4 | Jimmy Harris | Dem  | New Orleans | 2019  | Yes
5 | Royce Duplessis | Dem  | New Orleans | 2022  | Yes
6 | Rick Edmonds | Rep  | Baton Rouge | 2023  | Yes
7 | Gary Carter | Dem  | New Orleans | 2021  | Yes
8 | Patrick Connick | Rep  | Marrero | 2019  | Yes
9 | Cameron Henry | Rep  | Metairie | 2019  | Yes
10 | Kirk Talbot | Rep  | River Ridge | 2019  | Yes
11 | Patrick McMath | Rep  | Covington | 2019  | Yes
12 | Beth Mizell | Rep  | Franklinton | 2015  | No
13 | Valarie Hodges | Rep  | Denham Springs | 2023  | Yes
14 | Larry Selders | Dem  | Baton Rouge | 2025  | Yes
15 | Regina Barrow | Dem  | Baton Rouge | 2015  | No
16 | Franklin J. Foil | Rep  | Baton Rouge | 2019  | Yes
17 | Caleb Kleinpeter | Rep  | Brusly | 2022  | Yes
18 | Eddie J. Lambert | Rep  | Prairieville | 2015  | No
19 | Gregory A. Miller | Rep  | Norco | 2023  | Yes
20 | Michael "Big Mike" Fesi | Rep  | Houma | 2019  | Yes
21 | Robert Allain III | Rep  | Franklin | 2023  | Yes
22 | Blake Miguez | Rep  | New Iberia | 2023  | Yes
23 | Brach Myers | Rep  | Lafayette | 2025  | Yes
24 | Gerald Boudreaux | Dem  | Lafayette | 2015  | No
25 | Mark Abraham | Rep  | Lake Charles | 2019  | Yes
26 | Bob Hensgens | Rep  | Abbeville | 2018  | Yes
27 | Jeremy Stine | Rep  | Lake Charles | 2021  | Yes
28 | Heather Cloud | Rep  | Turkey Creek | 2019  | Yes
29 | Jay Luneau | Dem  | Alexandria | 2015  | No
30 | Mike Reese | Rep  | Leesville | 2019  | Yes
31 | Alan Seabaugh | Rep  | Shreveport | 2023  | Yes
32 | Glen Womack | Rep  | Harrisonburg | 2019  | Yes
33 | Stewart Cathey Jr. | Rep  | Monroe | 2019  | Yes
34 | Katrina R. Jackson | Dem  | Monroe | 2019  | Yes
35 | John C. "Jay" Morris | Rep  | West Monroe | 2019  | Yes
36 | Adam Bass | Rep  | Bossier City | 2023  | Yes
37 | Bill Wheat | Rep  | Ponchatoula | 2023  | Yes
38 | Thomas Pressly | Rep  | Shreveport | 2023  | Yes
39 | Sam Jenkins | Dem  | Shreveport | 2023  | Yes

## Committee assignments

[edit]

The Louisiana State Senate currently has over fifteen different committees in which the senators sit. These committees address a wide range of issues such as environmental quality, education, labor relations and more . A full list of the committees can be found at the senate committees page.[1] Likewise, a full list of committee assignments (by member) can be found at the committee assignments page.[2]

Name | Chair | Vice Chair

|
|

Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, & Rural Development  | Stewart Cathey Jr.  | Bill Wheat
Commerce, Consumer Protection, & International Affairs  | Beth Mizell  | Jean-Paul Coussan
Education  | Rick Edmonds  | Valarie Hodges
Environmental Quality  | Eddie J. Lambert  | Jeremy Stine
Finance  | Glen Womack  | Heather Cloud
Health & Welfare  | Patrick McMath  | Katrina Jackson-Andrews
Insurance  | Kirk Talbot  | Adam Bass
Judiciary A  | Gregory Miller  | Jay Luneau
Judiciary B  | Mike Reese  | Jimmy Harris
Judiciary C  | John C. "Jay" Morris  | Mark Abraham
Labor & Industrial Relations  | Alan Seabaugh  | Thomas Pressly
Local & Municipal Affairs  | Joseph Bouie  | Gerald Boudreaux
Natural Resources  | Bob Hensgens  | Michael "Big Mike" Fesi
Retirement  | Edward J. Price  | Caleb Kleinpeter
Revenue & Fiscal Affairs  | Franklin Foil  | Sam Jenkins
Senate & Governmental Affairs  | Cleo Fields  | Blake Miguez
Transportation, Highways, & Public Works  | Patrick Connick  | Gary Carter

## President of the senate

[edit]

Main article: President of the Louisiana State Senate

The Senate president, elected by its members, serves as its highest-ranking official. While not required, the governor typically nominates the president, who is then elected by the Senate. The president is usually chosen from the majority party, even if it is not the governor's party, although this is not always the case. One example of this is when Republican Governor Mike Foster chose Republican State Senator John J. Hainkel Jr. to serve as senate president even though the Democrats had a large majority. One factor that allows for this is that the Governor usually has support on both sides of the aisle when he first enters office so his appointees, including the senate president, are usually confirmed easily.

The president is fifth in the line of succession to the governorship after the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state treasurer.

### History

[edit]

#### Early years

[edit]

The Louisiana Constitution of 1812 did not provide for a lieutenant governor to succeed to the governorship in case of the governor's death, resignation or removal from office, neither would there be a lieutenant governor to preside over the state senate, instead it provided that the President would serve as the state senate's presiding officer and become acting governor until the seating of an elected governor. The first senate president to succeed to the governorship was Henry S. Thibodaux, who succeeded to the position in 1824 after the resignation of Governor Thomas B. Robertson. Thibodaux served for one month before the Governor-elect, Henry Johnson, took office. In 1829, Governor Pierre Derbigny died in a carriage accident, allowing for Senate President Armand Beauvais to become acting governor. Beauvais resigned after only three months in 1830 to run in the special election to fill the post. The new senate president, Jacques Dupré, became the new acting governor until he resigned in 1831 and was replaced by governor-elect André B. Roman.

#### Lieutenant governor as president

[edit]

In the Louisiana Constitution of 1846, the lieutenant governor of Louisiana assumed the functions of the senate presidency. This arrangement lasted until 1976. The first lieutenant governor to preside over the Senate was Trasimond Landry who served from 1846 until 1850. During the Civil War there were two lieutenant governors, one union, and one confederate, as there were two separate state governments. During the Reconstruction the post was held by Republicans, thereafter the chair was held by Democrats for over a hundred years.

#### Democratic domination (1877–1976)

[edit]

From the end of the Reconstruction in 1877 until the appointment of John Hainkel in 2000, the senate chair was held by Democrats. During this time most lieutenant governors were allies of the Governor, with notable exceptions. During this time several senate presidents pro tempore became acting lieutenant governor due to the premature vacating of the office of lieutenant governor. On at least two occasions it was due to the ascension of the lieutenant governor to the governorship, in the case of the others it was because of the death, resignation or removal of the lieutenant governor. When the seat was vacated the president pro tempore became acting lieutenant governor in accordance with the constitution, and on two occasions the president pro tempore became governor. In 1976, with the implementation of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, the lieutenant governor assumed executive duties and the gavel once again passed to a senate-elected president. 1976 also saw Virginia Shehee become the first woman elected to the Louisiana State Senate.[3]

#### Two-party system (1976–present)

[edit]

The reinstatement of the elected senate presidency and the installation of a new constitution brought with it something Louisiana had not seen since the 1850s: a two-party system. Also new to the presidency the practicing of appointing of the president by the governor. This practice had been applied to the state House Speakership for years. The first elected Senate President under the new constitution was Michael H. O'Keefe Sr., an ally of Edwin Edwards, who was elected to his second term as governor in 1975. In 1980 something that had not happened since the Reconstruction became a reality; a Republican governor was in office. David Treen was elected in 1979, and with him came more Republican legislators, although only an enlarged minority. O'Keefe retained the senate presidency under Treen until he was forced to resign the presidency after convictions in federal court.

In 2000, although still in the minority, Republican John Hainkel, who served as speaker of the House as a Democrat under Treen, was appointed by Republican Governor Murphy J. Foster, Jr. to be senate president, the first Republican in over a century. In 2011 the Republicans obtained a majority in the senate, a Republican John Alario, a Democratic speaker of the House under Edwin Edwards from 1984 to 1988 and again from 1992 to 1996, was appointed senate president by Republican Governor Bobby Jindal, joining Hainkel as the only men to be elected as Speaker of the House and Senate President in Louisiana's history. Alario retained the position when Democrat John Bel Edwards was elected in 2015.

In 2020, Republican Patrick Page Cortez was elected senate president when Alario retired due to term limits.

### Powers

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The Senate president assigns members to committees, often based on recommendations from the governor. The president plays a key role in advancing or blocking legislation during sessions. If a senator supports the governor's agenda the president may promote them to more powerful committees, or even appoint them chairman or vice chairmanships. The president usually maintains a strong hold on the senate and legislation through his appointment of committee memberships and committee chairmen. The president has the power to rule on points of order recognize senators so they may speak and control the flow of legislation through the senate. The senate president is almost always an ally of the Governor, this allows the administration to pass their legislative agenda through easier and it allows them to kill opposition legislation easier too. The senate president is usually a powerful and influential senator before he is appointed senate president. If a senate seat falls vacant before the expiration f its term the senate president calls for an election, he sets the date, times, and places of voting. Upon the petition of a majority of the members of the legislature the President along with the Speakers calls a special session. The senate president is fifth in the gubernatorial line of succession. If the president is ever absent the senate president pro tempore, who is also appointed by the governor, presides. Should the senate chair ever fall permanently vacant the senate president pro tempore presides until the election of a new president.

## Past composition of the senate

[edit]

Main article: Political party strength in Louisiana

## See also

[edit]

* President of the Louisiana State Senate
* Louisiana Legislature
* Louisiana House of Representatives

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Republican Jean-Paul Coussan (District 23) resigned to become a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission. [1]
2. ^ Democrat Cleo Fields (District 14) resigned to take office in the United States House of Representatives.
3. ^ Democrat Larry Selders (District 14) and Republican Brach Myers (District 23) were sworn in.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Louisiana State Senate - Committees". senate.legis.state.la.us.
2. ^ "Louisiana State Senate - Senators". senate.legis.state.la.us.
3. ^ "Longtime Northwest Louisiana Business and Community Leader, Virginia Shehee Dies at 91". Center Broadcasting Company. Retrieved July 17, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* The Louisiana State Senate official government website
* State Senate of Louisiana at Project Vote Smart
* Louisiana State Senate at Ballotpedia

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Louisiana State Senate

President of the Senate
Cameron Henry (R)
President pro tempore
Regina Barrow (D)

1. ▌Bob Owen (R)
2. ▌Ed Price (D)
3. ▌Joseph Bouie (D)
4. ▌Jimmy Harris (D)
5. ▌Royce Duplessis (D)
6. ▌Rick Edmonds (R)
7. ▌Gary Carter Jr. (D)
8. ▌Patrick Connick (R)
9. ▌Cameron Henry (R)
10. ▌Kirk Talbot (R)
11. ▌Patrick McMath (R)
12. ▌Beth Mizell (R)
13. ▌Valarie Hodges (R)
14. ▌Larry Selders (D)
15. ▌Regina Barrow (D)
16. ▌Franklin Foil (R)
17. ▌Caleb Kleinpeter (R)
18. ▌Eddie J. Lambert (R)
19. ▌Gregory A. Miller (R)
20. ▌Mike Fesi (R)
21. ▌Robert Allain III (R)
22. ▌Blake Miguez (R)
23. ▌Brach Myers (R)
24. ▌Gerald Boudreaux (D)
25. ▌Mark Abraham (R)
26. ▌Bob Hensgens (R)
27. ▌Jeremy Stine (R)
28. ▌Heather Cloud (R)
29. ▌Jay Luneau (D)
30. ▌Mike Reese (R)
31. ▌Alan Seabaugh (R)
32. ▌Glen Womack (R)
33. ▌Stewart Cathey Jr. (R)
34. ▌Katrina Jackson (D)
35. ▌Jay Morris (R)
36. ▌Adam Bass (R)
37. ▌Bill Wheat (R)
38. ▌Thomas Pressly (R)
39. ▌Sam Jenkins (D)

* ▌Republican (28)
* ▌Democratic (11)

* Louisiana Legislature
* House
* Senate
* List of past legislatures

* v
* t
* e

Legislatures of the United States

United States Congress|

* United States House of Representatives
* United States Senate

State legislatures|

* Alabama (H, S)
* Alaska (H, S)
* Arizona (H, S)
* Arkansas (H, S)
* California (A, S)
* Colorado (H, S)
* Connecticut (H, S)
* Delaware (H, S)
* Florida (H, S)
* Georgia (H, S)
* Hawaii (H, S)
* Idaho (H, S)
* Illinois (H, S)
* Indiana (H, S)
* Iowa (H, S)
* Kansas (H, S)
* Kentucky (H, S)
* Louisiana (H, S)
* Maine (H, S)
* Maryland (H, S)
* Massachusetts (H, S)
* Michigan (H, S)
* Minnesota (H, S)
* Mississippi (H, S)
* Missouri (H, S)
* Montana (H, S)
* Nebraska
* Nevada (A, S)
* New Hampshire (H, S)
* New Jersey (GA, S)
* New Mexico (H, S)
* New York (A, S)
* North Carolina (H, S)
* North Dakota (H, S)
* Ohio (H, S)
* Oklahoma (H, S)
* Oregon (H, S)
* Pennsylvania (H, S)
* Rhode Island (H, S)
* South Carolina (H, S)
* South Dakota (H, S)
* Tennessee (H, S)
* Texas (H, S)
* Utah (H, S)
* Vermont (H, S)
* Virginia (H, S)
* Washington (H, S)
* West Virginia (H, S)
* Wisconsin (A, S)
* Wyoming (H, S)

Other legislatures|

* District of Columbia
* American Samoa (H, S)
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands (H, S)
* Puerto Rico (H, S)
* U.S. Virgin Islands

Legislative elections|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025
* 2026

* List of U.S. state legislators
* Lists of past U.S. state legislatures

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template