Jeff Landry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Landry
Landry in 2024
57th Governor of Louisiana
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2024
Lieutenant	Billy Nungesser
Preceded by	John Bel Edwards
45th Attorney General of Louisiana
In office January 11, 2016 – January 8, 2024
Governor	John Bel Edwards
Preceded by	Buddy Caldwell
Succeeded by	Liz Murrill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 3rd district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Charlie Melançon
Succeeded by	Charles Boustany (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born	Jeffrey Martin Landry (1970-12-23) December 23, 1970 (age 54) St. Martinville, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Sharon LeBlanc
Children	1
Residence	Governor's Mansion
Education	University of Louisiana at Lafayette (BS) Loyola University New Orleans (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1987–1998
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Louisiana National Guard
Awards	Army Achievement Medal Army Commendation Medal Louisiana War Cross

Jeffrey Martin Landry (born December 23, 1970) is an American politician and lawyer who is the 57th governor of Louisiana. He took office in 2024. As a member of the Republican Party, he was Louisiana's attorney general from 2016 to 2024. He also served in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013.

Landry was born in St. Martinville, Louisiana. He graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and later earned a law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. While still in high school, he joined the Louisiana National Guard and served for 11 years. He also worked as a police officer and sheriff's deputy.

In 2015, Landry was elected as Louisiana's Attorney General. During his time in this role, he supported prayer in public schools and often had disagreements with Governor John Bel Edwards on state issues. In 2023, Landry won the election for governor. As governor, he has signed new laws about crime and gun rights. He also signed a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public school classrooms.

Early Life and Education

Jeff Landry was born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, on December 23, 1970. He was the oldest of four children. His mother, Edna, was a school teacher, and his father, Al, was an architect and businessman.

Landry went to St. Martinville High School, where he played football as a wide receiver. After high school, he had several jobs. He worked on a sugarcane farm, as a police officer, and as a sheriff's deputy for St. Martin Parish. He also served for 11 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard.

Landry later went to college at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, which is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in environmental science. He then studied law and earned his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2004. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer and businessman in New Iberia.

Political Career

First Run for Office

In 2007, Landry ran for a seat in the Louisiana State Senate. He faced Troy Hebert, who was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. The election was very close, but Landry lost, receiving 49% of the vote compared to Hebert's 51%.

U.S. House of Representatives

2010 Election

In 2010, Landry ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress to represent Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. He won the Republican nomination and then won the main election with 64% of the vote.

2012 Election

Landry during his time in Congress.

After the 2010 census, Louisiana lost a congressional district. This meant the state's map of districts had to be redrawn. Landry's district was combined with the district of another Republican, Charles Boustany.

The new district was mostly made up of areas Boustany had represented. In the 2012 election, Landry and Boustany both ran for the same seat. Boustany received more votes and won the election.

Time in Congress

While in Congress, Landry was a strong supporter of the oil and natural gas industry. He often disagreed with President Barack Obama's policies. During one of the president's speeches about jobs, Landry held up a sign that said "Drilling=jobs" to show his support for the oil industry.

He also wrote a letter to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette asking them to remove a new minor field of study. The university president declined, saying the program did not cost extra money and that universities should allow students to study different social issues.

Attorney General of Louisiana

In 2015, Landry was elected as the Attorney General of Louisiana, defeating the previous attorney general, Buddy Caldwell. He was reelected in 2019 with over 66% of the vote. The attorney general is the top lawyer for the state.

Disagreements with the Governor

As attorney general, Landry often had public disagreements with Governor John Bel Edwards. One of their first disputes was over the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which are education standards for schools. Both men opposed Common Core, but they disagreed on how to handle a lawsuit about it.

They also disagreed on state contracts and the budget for the attorney general's office. Landry sued the governor over budget issues, but they later reached a compromise.

Important Issues

Libraries and Books

In 2022, Landry started a tip line called "Protecting Minors." It allowed people to report concerns about books and materials in schools and libraries. He later wrote a report that supported laws to let local library boards restrict certain books they considered inappropriate for children.

Religious Expression in Schools

In 2018, Landry worked with U.S. Representative Mike Johnson and actor Kirk Cameron to support student-led prayer in public schools. They argued that the First Amendment protects religious expression for students. They appeared at rallies to promote this idea.

2020 Presidential Election

After the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Landry joined a lawsuit led by the Texas Attorney General. The lawsuit tried to challenge the election results in four states where Joe Biden had won. The U.S. Supreme Court quickly rejected the lawsuit.

Governor of Louisiana

2023 Election

In 2022, Landry announced he was running for governor of Louisiana. He was supported by the Republican Party of Louisiana and former president Donald Trump.

Landry won the election on October 14, 2023, with 52% of the vote. This was enough to win without a second runoff election. He officially became governor on January 8, 2024.

Actions as Governor

New Laws on Crime and Guns

In March 2024, Landry signed several new laws that changed the state's criminal justice system. These laws reduced the chances for parole and early release for good behavior. He also signed a law allowing people to carry concealed handguns without a permit.

Ten Commandments in Schools

In June 2024, Landry signed a law that requires a poster of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom in Louisiana. He called the bill "one of my favorites." The law was challenged in court by civil liberties groups, and a judge has blocked it for now. The state plans to appeal the decision.

Free Speech on College Campuses

Landry has taken several actions related to free speech at public universities. In June 2024, he signed a law that says acts of civil disobedience are not protected as free speech on college campuses.

In October 2024, he signed an executive order to protect free speech at universities. The order expressed concern that some campus reporting systems might make students afraid to share different opinions.

Personal Life

Landry is married to Sharon Landry, and they have one son. They are Roman Catholic. While he was in Congress, his family lived in Louisiana while he worked in Washington, D.C.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Jeff Landry para niños