Steve Scalise and Bobby Jindal cited as possible vice presidential candidates for Donald Trump

WASHINGTON – Louisiana is home to two of the eight potential Republican running mates for former President Donald Trump that were recently floated by a conservative news channel.

U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, and former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-Baton Rouge, were named by Newsmax Media as good picks to be Trump’s No. 2 – assuming Trump grabs the nomination. Conservative leaders frequently appear on the network, where their viewpoints generally aren’t questioned and their opinions usually find agreement from program hosts.

Trump told CNN over the weekend that he has a candidate in mind, whom he would not name. The leading contender for the GOP presidential nomination added that it’s awfully early to be picking a vice presidential candidate and the name he had mind right now has only a 25% chance of actually being chosen.

Newsmax surmised that based on his previous tenure, Trump would seek a loyalist conservative who could strengthen his support in the competitive states of Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, or Minnesota, whose electoral votes are expected to decide the election.

Jindal, who ranked No. 4 on the list of eight, has experience as both a governor and a congressperson. As former secretary of what is now called the Louisiana Department of Health, Jindal also has experience in shaping healthcare policies, Newsmax stated.

Newsmax stated that Jindal could resonate with voters in the South, particularly in Arizona, and his inclusion on the ticket would demonstrate diversity.

Trump in recent days has been mocking his last remaining GOP challenger for the presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, by calling her variations on her birth name, which is Nimarata. Haley, like Jindal, is Indian-American. Trump has also questioned whether Haley was born in the U.S. She was born in South Carolina and served two terms as governor of that state, later serving in Trump’s cabinet as ambassador to the United Nations. Jindal was born in Baton Rouge.   

Scalise, whom Newsmax ranked at No. 8 among the possibilities, would be the first vice president of Sicilian descent if chosen by Trump and elected, the network pointed out. (As it happens, Scalise would actually be the first Italian-American vice president in this scenario as well. Geraldine Ferraro, the first Italian-American vice presidential nominee, was on the losing Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale in 1984).

Scalise replaced Jindal in the U.S. House when Jindal became governor in 2008. Scalise became leader of a conservative caucus, then became Republican whip and was elected majority leader in 2023.

Newsmax noted Scalise’s recovery from a politically motivated shooting as well as his dedication to public service while overcoming illness. Trump also could use Scalise’s abilities at rallying support within the party and getting legislation through Congress. And Scalise has good connections and support throughout the South, Newsmax said.

Trump notably did not support Scalise in October when Scalise ran for House speaker, however. Instead, he endorsed Scalise’s main challenger at the time, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. In the end, neither Scalise nor Jordan was able to put together the votes to take the gavel, a post that ultimately fell to Rep. Mike Johnson, of Benton.