Columnist Stephanie Grace

Stephanie Grace: In some states, people get to vote on things like abortion rights. Not in Louisiana.

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Sep 2, 2023

Louisiana is considered the most anti-abortion state in the nation, yet a whole lot of Louisiana voters think the state’s near-absolute ban on the procedure goes too far, according to a new poll.

Stephanie Grace: Poll has good news, and better news, for Jeff Landry

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Aug 26, 2023

As David Vitter frantically tried to reverse the momentum that was carrying his gubernatorial opponent John Bel Edwards toward a decisive victory in 2015, the Republican U.S. senator cut an ad…

Stephanie Grace: Louisiana deserved a debate over insurance this fall. It won't get one.

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Aug 19, 2023

When longtime Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon decided not to run for reelection, this column posed a question: Who’d want the job anyway?

Stephanie Grace: Bill Cassidy endorsement points to Anybody-But-Landry camp's steep challenge

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Updated Aug 13, 2023

Jeff Landry is now officially a candidate for governor. So are Shawn Wilson, John Schroder, Stephen Waguespack, Sharon Hewitt, Richard Nelson, Hunter Lundy and nine others.

Stephanie Grace: Why John Bel Edwards isn't much of a lightning rod in race to replace him

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jul 29, 2023

Elections for governor are generally all about the candidates competing for the job.

Stephanie Grace: For John Bel Edwards, one loss but a lot of wins in the veto wars

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jul 22, 2023

Tuesday, the Republican-dominated Legislature pulled what was essentially a power play over Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, when it overrode his veto of a high-profile bill banning gender-af…

Stephanie Grace: Veto overrides are the latest front in Baton Rouge's partisan wars

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jul 15, 2023

It would probably surprise casual followers of the Louisiana Legislature to learn that veto sessions —?with lawmakers returning to the state Capitol to try to override vetoes by the governor —…

Stephanie Grace: A year later, Louisiana is a more frightening place for women and their doctors

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jun 24, 2023

It’s been a year since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, upending a half-century precedent and launching Louisiana and other states bent on severely restricting or outlawing abortio…

Stephanie Grace: Under the legislative Republicans' big tent, some big problems

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jun 17, 2023

March 17 marked a moment of triumph for Louisiana Republicans.

Stephanie Grace: Once more, John Bel Edwards appeals to our better angels. Will the next governor?

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jun 10, 2023

It’s been quite a while since I wrote about Gov. John Bel Edwards'?disappointed dad face?— that look he used to get back in his first term when some legislators played political games rather t…

Stephanie Grace: Watch out for friendly -- and not so friendly -- fire in the governor race

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jun 3, 2023

John Bel Edwards and Steve Scalise said last week that they’d like to see the gubernatorial candidates from their respective parties refrain from fighting among themselves and hold their fire …

Stephanie Grace: On climate, John Bel Edwards knows how to sell big plans

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
May 27, 2023

John Bel Edwards’ mild manner and carefully chosen words —?entirely appropriate for a Democratic governor maneuvering his way through a decidedly Republican state —?sometimes belie his ambitio…

Stephanie Grace: Low lawmaker pay is one reason Louisiana can't have nice things

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
May 20, 2023

In writing this column each week, I try to find ways to look on the bright side, rather than compiling an ongoing list of reasons why Louisiana can’t have nice things.

Beyond the Headlines: Is Washington-style politics the new ‘Louisiana Way’?

Staff report
May 18, 2023

Louisiana lawmakers used to follow the late House Speaker Tip O’Neill’s maxim that all politics is local. No longer. Our Legislature now seems hyper-focused on divisive issues and riven by par…

Stephanie Grace: Compassion is in short supply as lawmakers retain harsh abortion restrictions

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
May 13, 2023

Although a champion of health care access otherwise, Gov. John Bel Edwards has opposed abortion as long as he’s been in public life.

Stephanie Grace: Why Medicaid expansion will outlive Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Updated May 8, 2023

In his last regular legislative session as governor, John Bel Edwards is still pushing some of the same priorities he first campaigned on back in 2015?— things like a higher minimum wage, once…

Stephanie Grace: Steve Scalise is his No. 2, but Garret Graves has Kevin McCarthy's ear

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Apr 22, 2023

Much ink has been spilled, both the old-school kind and its digital equivalent, on U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise’s proximity to power.

Stephanie Grace: On his way out the door, Kyle Ardoin makes final stand against the Big Lie

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Updated Apr 16, 2023

It’s probably too much to call Kyle Ardoin’s parting plea to Louisiana voters a Brad Raffensperger moment. For one thing, nobody?— certainly not a president who’d just been voted out of office…

Stephanie Grace: Just imagine what else the coalition behind criminal justice reform could do

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Updated Apr 9, 2023

When Louisiana lawmakers gather this week to launch the 2023 regular legislative session, most of them will focus on what they plan do to over the next two months. I hope they’ll also keep in …

Stephanie Grace: Yes, Louisiana politicians do get some things right

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Updated Apr 2, 2023

Following Louisiana politics for a living is enough to make anyone cynical?— frankly, the vocation probably attracts those of us with a jaded view of the field in the first place?— but lately …

Stephanie Grace: A clueless Clay Higgins enlists in the War on Libraries

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Mar 25, 2023

I’m far from the only person who has suggested that U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins isn’t the brightest bulb in the U.S. Congress; indeed, much of social media says far worse on a routine basis. But le…

Stephanie Grace: Who'd want to be insurance commissioner anyway?

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Mar 18, 2023

Despite his age (78) and longevity in public office (17 years as insurance commissioner and five decades total in politics), Jim Donelon’s retirement announcement last week was somewhat unexpected.

Stephanie Grace: One more Republican running for governor, but no more clarity

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Mar 11, 2023

Other than the fact that he smiles more, it’s tempting to compare Stephen Waguespack, the newest entrant in the ever-shifting race for Louisiana governor, to Dick Cheney.

Stephanie Grace: Ever so slightly -- and none too soon -- gubernatorial debate shifts away from Republican orthodoxy

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Mar 4, 2023

If Louisiana had closed primaries, last week’s gathering of Republican gubernatorial candidates would probably have unfolded differently. And the setting of the event, a luncheon hosted by the…

Stephanie Grace: Recall referendum or not, LaToya Cantrell needs a reset

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Feb 26, 2023

Ask me if I think New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will soon face a recall referendum, and here’s my answer: I have no idea.

Stephanie Grace: For this year's Carnival satirists, LaToya Cantrell is the gift that keeps on giving

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Feb 20, 2023

He may be running for president — again?—?but Donald Trump is no longer at the center of our news universe. Fittingly, Trump also is no longer the prime target for Mardi Gras-season satire.

Stephanie Grace: If there's a line, count on Clay Higgins & Co. to cross it

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Updated Feb 12, 2023

Not so long ago, a single shout of “you lie” during a presidential address to Congress was enough to visibly rattle the congenitally cool, collected Barack Obama. Over the president’s right sh…

Stephanie Grace: In governor's race, bring on the B-listers

BY STEPHANIE GRACE | Staff columnist
Jan 28, 2023

It must have been nice to be U.S. Rep. Garret Graves this past month or so, with the phone ringing and dinging constantly as fellow Louisianans told him how badly he’s needed back home, even a…