ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) – President Donald Trump (R) has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Now in his second term, how will his second presidency affect Louisiana?
“We will have increased enthusiasm because we know we won’t be facing opposition from Washington for things that we’ll do,” said Cenla State Representative Chuck Owen (R-District 30).
The Republican party has taken control of the Louisiana legislature in the House and Senate and currently holds a slim majority in the U.S. Congress.
In 2024, Republican Jeff Landry was sworn in as Louisiana’s governor, succeeding former Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards, and Louisianans saw things the legislature was not able to do previously.
“The majority in my first four years was, I would say, less solid,” Owen said. “Then we had consternation with the governor’s office. We don’t have that anymore. We were able to get a lot more things done last year, both in the regular session and in the special session in the fall with the taxes.”
While President Trump is in office, Owen wants to see a stronger military.
“We need a larger Army, we need a larger Air Force,” he said. “That’s one of the things I’m hopeful that President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth will pursue, will be growing our Army. I think that would be good for the country. It might be good for us in Central Louisiana. But, we need a bigger military.”
However, for Democrats in the state legislature, a second Trump presidency does raise concerns.
Cenla State Representative Ed Larvadain III (D-District 26) said President Trump’s proposed tariffs would make a lot of items very expensive, and folks locally would be struggling to pay for them.
“I want to congratulate him, and I hope that he does an excellent job because he’s a president for everybody. I’m mostly concerned with the economy,” he said. “Everyday items like food, automobile parts, those items would be expensive. Also, those countries may retaliate and also place tariffs on our items. I’m concerned about that.”
Adding to those concerns is making sure ports in the Pelican State stay active, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Taking a look at the numbers, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance won 60 percent of the vote in the Pelican State in the November 2024 Election.
In the U.S. Congress, 218 Republicans, 215 Democrats and two vacancies make up the House of Representatives. In the Senate, there are 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two Independents.
In the Louisiana Legislature, State House and State Senate, Republicans also hold a majority.
Overall, finding common ground will be key for all.
“We’re in this together,” Larvadain said. “President Trump will be here for four years. We have to find common ground. On issues that we can work with him, we’re going to work with him.”
“This would be a year for great governance,” Owen said. “That’s what I’m hoping for, is that Democrats and Republicans and Independents can work together and govern well this year. Let’s try to plan for the future. Put the fighting of election year aside, and let’s try to plan for the future for our children and grandchildren.”
Pending any special sessions in the near future, the state legislature will convene for its regular session on April 14 at noon.
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