Steve Scalise

Steve Scalise returned to Congress after being critically wounded at a congressional baseball practice in June 2017.¹ Born in New Orleans, he and his wife, Jennifer, have two children.²¹ He graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School before attending Louisiana State University.¹

At LSU, Scalise studied computer science and minored in political science.¹ He worked as a software engineer and technology company marketing executive before entering state politics.² He served in Louisiana's Legislature from 1996 through 2008, then won his first congressional election in 2008.¹ That first congressional victory was a special election to replace Bobby Jindal, who had resigned the seat.² His colleagues selected him as majority whip for 2014 through 2018 and minority whip for 2019 through 2022, giving him responsibility for organizing Republican support as bills moved through the House.¹

Since 2023, he has served as House majority leader, helping set the legislative agenda and schedule floor votes.¹ His office highlights his work on the RESTORE Act, enacted in 2012, which directs 80 percent of civil and administrative Clean Water Act penalties for the Deepwater Horizon spill toward Gulf Coast environmental and economic recovery.¹³

Scalise faces Democrat Lauren Jewett, fellow Republican Randall Arrington and E. Liddy Glass, who has no party affiliation, in November's open primary.⁴ His priorities include lower taxes, stronger border security and increased domestic energy production, alongside protecting Louisiana's share of offshore energy revenues for coastal restoration.¹