Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jeff Landry

Discover the career path of Jeff Landry, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Jeff Landry is an American politician and attorney who is the current Governor of Louisiana, since 2024. A Republican, Landry previously served as the state's Attorney General from 2016 to 2024. Prior to his statewide roles, he represented Louisiana's 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. Landry's career reflects a trajectory from federal legislative service to state-level executive leadership.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2004: Landry Ends Time as Reserve Deputy

Jeff Landry stated that he remained a reserve deputy until 2004.

2007: Caldwell First Elected as Attorney General

In 2007, Buddy Caldwell was first elected as Attorney General.

2007: Landry runs for Louisiana State Senate

In 2007, Jeff Landry ran for Louisiana's 22nd Senate district. He faced Troy Hebert and was defeated.

2010: Landry Elected to U.S. Congress

In 2010, Jeff Landry was elected to the U.S. Congress.

2010: Incident Raised in Republican Primary Election

In 2010, during an acrimonious Republican primary election, Landry's opponent raised the 1993 incident involving a drug search at Landry's home. The District Attorney stated that Landry was never implicated in any crime.

September 2011: Landry Holds Sign During Obama's Speech

In September 2011, Jeff Landry made national headlines by holding up a sign saying "Drilling=jobs" during Obama's national jobs plan speech.

2011: Landry Receives Endorsements and Fundraising Information

In 2011, Citizens United and Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum political action committee endorsed Jeff Landry. He led Boustany in third-quarter fundraising, $251,000 to $218,000. Boustany led in cash on hand, $1.1 million–$402,000 according to the Federal Election Commission.

2011: Landry Becomes U.S. Representative

In 2011, Jeff Landry became the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district.

June 2012: Landry Claims Obama Administration Granting Special Status to Muslims

In June 2012, Jeff Landry claimed that the Obama administration was "granting special status or waivers to Muslims as they go through TSA screenings." This claim was false, as no such religious exemption existed.

July 2012: Landry Opposes LGBT Studies Minor

In July 2012, Jeff Landry opposed the establishment of a minor in LGBT studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and asked the university's president to drop the minor. The president declined.

August 2012: Landry Urges Elimination of LGBT Studies Minor

In August 2012, Jeff Landry urged the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to eliminate its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies minor, claiming it did not align with the college's mission.

2013: Landry ends term as U.S. Representative

In 2013, Jeff Landry's term as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district ended.

February 24, 2014: Landry Announces Challenge to Caldwell

On February 24, 2014, Jeff Landry announced his challenge to Buddy Caldwell for Attorney General.

2015: Landry Defeats Caldwell

In 2015, Jeff Landry defeated incumbent Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell.

2015: Dispute Over Common Core Lawsuit

In 2015, soon after Jeff Landry took office as attorney general, he became embroiled in a public dispute with Governor Edwards over a lawsuit regarding the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Landry eventually deferred to Edwards and dropped the suit.

September 2016: Landry Blocks Edwards' Attempt to Protect Gay Employees

In September 2016, Jeff Landry blocked Governor Edwards' attempt to require state contracts to protect gay and lesbian employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation, leading to a lawsuit.

December 14, 2016: Judge Declares Edwards' Order Unconstitutional

On December 14, 2016, Judge Todd Hernandez declared Governor Edwards' order regarding protection of gay and lesbian employees unconstitutional in the case brought by Attorney General Jeff Landry.

2016: Landry Becomes Attorney General of Louisiana

In 2016, Jeff Landry assumed the role of the 45th Attorney General of Louisiana.

March 2017: Edwards Appeals LGBT Case

In March 2017, Governor Edwards announced that he would appeal the LGBT case that Jeff Landry won before Judge Hernandez. Landry accused Edwards of "playing petty politics".

2017: Landry starts misspending campaign funds

In 2017, Jeff Landry started misspending campaign funds on a car note for a Chevrolet Suburban. The Louisiana Board of Ethics took no action due to the expired statute of limitations.

August 2018: Landry Considers Challenging Governor Edwards

In August 2018, Jeff Landry indicated that he might challenge Governor John Bel Edwards in 2019, instead of seeking reelection as attorney general. He also said he might run unless U.S. Senator John N. Kennedy decided to enter the race.

2018: Elected President of National Association of Attorneys General

In 2018, Jeff Landry was elected to a one-year term as president of the National Association of Attorneys General.

October 12, 2019: Landry Reelected as Attorney General

On October 12, 2019, Jeff Landry was reelected as Attorney General by a 2–1 margin.

2019: Landry Chairs Committee Targeting 'RINO' Legislators

In 2019, Jeff Landry chaired the Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority, which targeted "Republican in Name Only" (RINO) state legislators in the elections. He expressed a desire for party members to rally around conservative orthodoxy.

2019: Landry Stops Misspending Campaign Funds

In 2019, Jeff Landry stopped misspending campaign funds on a car note for a Chevrolet Suburban. The Louisiana Board of Ethics took no action due to the expired statute of limitations.

2019: Landry Considers Challenging Governor Edwards

December 2021: Landry Urges Disciplinary Action Against Professor

In December 2021, Jeff Landry urged Louisiana State University president William Tate to take disciplinary action against professor Robert Mann for referring to one of Landry's staff members as a "flunkie" on Twitter.

July 2022: State's Near-Total Abortion Ban

In July 2022, the state of Louisiana put a near-total ban on abortion which resulted in Jeff Landry urging the Louisiana State Bond Commission to delay funding for a power station in New Orleans due to the city's decriminalization of abortion.

August 2022: Landry Urges Delay in Funding Power Station

In August 2022, Jeff Landry urged the Louisiana State Bond Commission to delay funding for a power station in New Orleans due to the city's decriminalization of abortion.

September 2022: Commission Approves Funding Despite Landry's Objections

In September 2022, the Louisiana State Bond Commission approved funding for a power station despite Jeff Landry's objections.

October 5, 2022: Launched campaign for governor of Louisiana

On October 5, 2022, Jeff Landry launched his campaign for governor of Louisiana in the 2023 election, receiving endorsements from the Republican Party of Louisiana and former president Donald Trump.

December 2022: Landry Establishes "Protecting Minors" Tip Line

In December 2022, Jeff Landry established a tip line called "Protecting Minors" to address concerns related to librarians, teachers, and other personnel in schools and libraries regarding the sexualization of children. Most of the complaints submitted were spam.

December 2022: Investigation Reveals Misspent Campaign Funds

In December 2022, an investigation revealed that Jeff Landry misspent campaign funds on a car note for a Chevrolet Suburban starting in 2017. The Louisiana Board of Ethics took no action due to the expired statute of limitations.

February 2023: Landry Drafts "Protecting Innocence" Report

In February 2023, Jeff Landry drafted a report titled "Protecting Innocence" focusing on libraries and supporting legislation restricting minors' access to certain materials deemed obscene by local public library boards.

October 14, 2023: Elected governor of Louisiana

On October 14, 2023, Jeff Landry was elected governor of Louisiana in the primary election with 52% of the vote, avoiding a runoff. His closest competitor, Shawn Wilson, received 25% of the vote.

2023: Landry Wins Louisiana Gubernatorial Election

Jeff Landry won the 2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election with a majority of the vote in the first round.

January 7, 2024: Ceremonial oath and inaugural address

On January 7, 2024, Jeff Landry took a ceremonial oath and delivered his inaugural address on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol, a day before officially taking office due to expected bad weather. The Louisiana state constitution requires gubernatorial terms to begin at noon on the second Monday in January.