Stephen Joseph Scalise is the House Majority Leader and the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 1st Congressional District, a GOP anchored seat spanning much of New Orleans's suburbs. A long time leadership figure, he previously served as House Majority Whip and later as House Minority Whip before returning to the majority leadership ladder.
Before Congress, Scalise served in the Louisiana House of Representatives and briefly in the Louisiana State Senate. He later chaired the Republican Study Committee, strengthening his ties to the party's conservative policy network while building a reputation as a disciplined floor tactician and coalition manager inside the conference.
Scalise survived the 2017 congressional baseball practice shooting and returned to the House after an extended recovery, often emphasizing faith and resilience. In 2023 he became the Republican conference's nominee for Speaker after Kevin McCarthy's removal, but withdrew when he could not consolidate the votes, remaining a central leadership player.
Mainstream Conservative
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- Rose through House GOP leadership, serving as Majority Whip and later Minority Whip before becoming Majority Leader in 2023.
- Central architect and floor manager for conservative messaging on spending, taxes, and energy policy.
- Longstanding champion of Louisiana energy and refinery interests, emphasizing domestic production and deregulation.
- Returned to Congress after surviving the 2017 baseball practice shooting, becoming a symbol of resilience inside the conference.
- Won the House GOP conference nomination for Speaker in October 2023 before withdrawing when he could not consolidate votes.
Controversies
- Criticized for a 2002 speech to a group later tied to white nationalist organizer David Duke, which Scalise said he did not understand at the time and later apologized for.
- Condemned by opponents for objecting to the certification of presidential electoral votes on January 6 2021.
- Accused by Democrats of prioritizing partisan confrontation over bipartisan compromise on budgets and governance deadlines.
- Scrutinized by critics over hardline positions on LGBT issues, abortion, and health care policy.
- Targeted by populist factions at times for maintaining ties to establishment donors and leadership aligned strategy.
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Israel Public Affairs Cmte | $473,758 | $463,758 | $10,000 |
| National Assn of Realtors | $164,500 | $157,500 | $7,000 |
| Valero Energy | $56,580 | $56,580 | $0 |
| Ochsner Health System | $49,286 | $49,286 | $0 |
| Cornerstone Government Affairs | $38,850 | $38,850 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.