Steve Scalise

Steve Scalise is an American politician serving as the House Majority Leader since 2023, representing Louisiana's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected to Congress in a 2008 special election and has risen through the House Republican Conference leadership ranks, serving as both Majority Whip and Minority Whip. Scalise gained national attention in 2017 when he was critically wounded during the Congressional baseball shooting but returned to his duties after a prolonged recovery.

Early life and education

Steve Scalise was born in New Orleans and grew up in the Metairie suburb of Jefferson Parish. He attended Archbishop Rummel High School before enrolling at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. During his time at Louisiana State University, Scalise was active in student government and developed an early interest in Louisiana politics, interning for then-State Representative Louis "Woody" Jenkins.

Political career

Scalise began his political career in the Louisiana Legislature, serving in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007 and then in the Louisiana Senate from 2008 until his election to federal office. He won a special election for Louisiana's 1st congressional district in 2008 to replace Bobby Jindal, who had been elected Governor of Louisiana. In the House, Scalise served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. He was elected chairman of the Republican Study Committee in 2013. His colleagues elected him House Majority Whip in 2014, a position he held until 2019 when he became House Minority Whip following the 2018 elections. After the Republican Party retook the House in the 2022 elections, he was elected House Majority Leader.

Political positions

A staunch conservative, Scalise has a voting record aligned with the House Freedom Caucus on many issues. He is a strong supporter of gun rights, as reflected by his American Conservative Union ratings, and is pro-life, having co-sponsored legislation like the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. On energy, he advocates for the expansion of domestic oil and gas production, particularly supporting the Keystone Pipeline and opposing the Green New Deal. He was a prominent defender of President Donald Trump during both impeachment trials and has been critical of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the Internal Revenue Service. Scalise has also been a vocal opponent of the Affordable Care Act.

Personal life

Scalise is married to Jennifer Scalise, and they have two children. The family resides in Jefferson Parish. In June 2017, he was shot and critically injured by James Hodgkinson during a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Virginia. After multiple surgeries and an extensive rehabilitation period, he returned to the Capitol in September 2017. In 2023, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, and underwent treatment while continuing his duties as House Majority Leader.

Electoral history

Scalise won his initial election to the 1st district in the 2008 special election with 75% of the vote. He has been re-elected comfortably since, typically facing only nominal Democratic or minor party opposition in the heavily Republican district. His notable re-election campaigns include the 2010 election following the Affordable Care Act passage and the 2014 election shortly after becoming Majority Whip. In 2022, he won with over 70% of the vote against a Democratic challenger.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives Category:Living people