As Democrats regroup, are Louisiana politicians on the radar?

Jaime R. Harrison, right, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, presents the gavel to Mitch Landrieu, left, during the start of the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.

Associated Press Photo by J. Scott Applewhite FILE - White House adviser Cedric Richmond boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland on July 21, 2021. Now a top advisor to President Joe Biden's reelection effort, Richmond will soon be joined by Mitch Landrieu on the campaign.



Associated Press Photo by Andrew Harnik Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — The Democratic Party is beginning to recalibrate in the wake of disastrous results in Tuesday’s elections. Speculation is swirling on which Democratic leaders could take the reins of the party and conduct an analysis of what went wrong, why and what can be done going into the future. Are top Louisiana leaders among those being discussed? Not yet, publicly at least, but it’s all up in the air.

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and former New Orleans U.S. Rep.

Cedric Richmond are among the top national Democratic leaders from Louisiana. Landrieu did not respond to queries Sunday and Richmond said he hadn’t heard any of the rumors. Other state and national Democratic Party leaders, staffers and elected officials said it’s still too early to discuss the subject.

Donna Brazile, a New Orleans native who has worked as a campaign manager and twice served as acting chair of the Democratic National Committee, said in a text Sunday that she is not the appropriate person to ask. “But I am sure that Mitch’s name will be in the mix. Like Cedric Richmond, they have played important roles both inside the Biden Administration and as senior advisors or Co-Chairs to Vice President Harris' 107-day campaign," Brazile said.

“The next chair has plenty to do. It starts with listening to the voters and helping to rebuild the entire party’s infrastructure before next year’s gubernatorial, state legislative and municipal elections, plus the 2026 midterm elections. It’s a big assignment and both Mitch and Cedric are uniquely qualified and capable of leading Democrats and more out of the wilderness.

” High-profile names mentioned by Fortune Magazine and other national media include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former Georgia lawmaker Stacey Abrams, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, former Texas U.

S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and current commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

Democratic leaders have scheduled a December meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, to sort out the next steps for the party and who would lead that effort. Over the past few days, several prominent Democrats have criticized the party’s handling of the 2024 campaign, its hope that women and minorities would overwhelmingly embrace Vice President Kamala Harris and its inability to adequately communicate with frustrated working class voters who are insecure about their financial future. Republicans won the White House and a majority in the Senate.

The GOP was two seats shy of taking the majority in the U.S. House as of Sunday evening.

President-elect Donald Trump easily swept the seven swing states that going into the election were expected to be close..