BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, a Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump and identified for his conservative positions on points like abortion, was inaugurated Sunday night — marking a political shift of management in a state that has had a Democratic governor for the final eight years.
Throughout his 30-minute speech, Landry referred to as for unity and expressed his love for the Bayou State whereas additionally laying out a few of his priorities, together with an aggressive response to addressing “uncivilized and outrageous” violent crime and safeguarding faculties from “the toxicity of unsuitable subject material.”
Landry will formally assume workplace as Louisiana’s 57th governor on Monday at midday. His inauguration was initially scheduled to happen Monday however was pushed as much as Sunday night as a consequence of climate considerations.
“It’s becoming and acceptable that we stand at present earlier than this Capitol, the solar having set on the previous and the place a brand new Louisiana day dawns,” Landry mentioned throughout his handle.
Landry took the oath of workplace on the steps of Louisiana’s Capitol, the place a whole lot of individuals watched. As soon as assuming workplace tomorrow afternoon, Republicans will occupy all statewide elected positions in Louisiana. Moreover, the GOP has a two-third supermajority in each the state Home and Senate.
Amongst these in attendance on the inauguration have been Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise, Donald Trump Jr., present Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and former Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The walkways have been lined with American flags and skinny blue line American flags, an emblem that has develop into related to Blue Lives Matter — a time period which has been utilized by some police supporters in response to the Black Lives Matter motion. Landry, who has a regulation enforcement background, famous the rows of flags in his speech and mentioned, “We all know too effectively the sacrifice you give day by day and the danger you endure to guard us from those that won’t comply with the legal guidelines of society.”
Amongst Landry’s high priorities as soon as within the governor’s mansion is addressing crime in city areas. Louisiana has the nation’s second-highest homicide price per capita.
Landry has vowed to name a particular legislative session in his first few months in workplace to handle the problem. He has pushed a tough-on-crime rhetoric, calling for extra “transparency” within the justice system and persevering with to assist capital punishment.
“I pledge to do all I presumably can to make our state safer and to convey an finish to the misguided and lethal tolerance for crime and criminals that plague us,” Landry mentioned Sunday.
Landry, who has served because the state’s lawyer normal for eight years, gained the gubernatorial election in October, beating a crowded discipline of candidates and avoiding a runoff. The win was a significant victory for the GOP, reclaiming the governor’s mansion. Edwards was unable to hunt reelection as a consequence of time period limits.
Landry, 53, has raised the profile of lawyer normal since taking workplace in 2016, championing conservative coverage positions. He has been within the highlight over his involvement and staunch assist of Louisiana legal guidelines which have drawn a lot debate, together with banning gender-affirming medical take care of younger transgender folks, the state’s near-total abortion ban and a regulation limiting youngsters’ entry to “sexually express materials” in libraries, which opponents worry will goal LGBTQ+ books.
“Our folks search authorities that displays their values,” Landry mentioned Sunday. “They demand that our kids be afforded an training that displays these healthful ideas, and never an indoctrination behind their mom’s again.”
The governor-elect has been in nationwide fights over President Joe Biden’s insurance policies limiting oil and gasoline manufacturing and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Previous to serving as lawyer normal, Landry spent two years on Capitol Hill, starting in 2011, the place he represented Louisiana’s third U.S. Congressional District. Earlier than that, he served 11 years within the Louisiana Military Nationwide Guard, was an area police officer, sheriff’s deputy and lawyer.
Together with addressing crime, Landry has additionally vowed to name a particular redistricting session as soon as in workplace.
Louisiana lawmakers have till the top of January to attract and cross new congressional boundaries to interchange a present map {that a} federal choose mentioned violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the ability of the state’s Black voters.
