Steve Scalise

Steve Scalise
Born	Stephen Joseph Scalise 6 10, 1965
Birthplace	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	House Majority Leader, surviving the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting
Education	Louisiana State University (B.S.)
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Stephen Joseph Scalise (born October 6, 1965) is an American politician serving as the House Majority Leader and the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district since 2008. A member of the Republican Party, Scalise has held several prominent leadership roles within the House Republican Conference, including House Majority Whip from 2014 to 2019 and House Minority Whip from 2019 to 2023. His political career began in the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served three terms before a brief stint in the Louisiana State Senate. In June 2017, Scalise became a national figure beyond the political arena when he was shot and critically wounded during practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Virginia, an event that drew widespread attention to the issue of political violence in the United States. After months of treatment and rehabilitation, he returned to Congress in September 2017. In October 2023, Scalise won the Republican nomination for Speaker of the House following the removal of Kevin McCarthy, but withdrew his candidacy a day later after failing to secure enough support among his colleagues. His district encompasses much of the suburban areas surrounding New Orleans, including Metairie, Kenner, and Slidell, as well as a portion of New Orleans itself. As of 2026, Scalise continues to serve as House Majority Leader in the 119th Congress.

Early Life

Stephen Joseph Scalise was born on October 6, 1965, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in the New Orleans metropolitan area in a family of Italian-American descent. His father, Alfred Joseph Scalise, was a longtime resident of the Jefferson Parish area.

Scalise was raised in the suburbs of New Orleans, a region that would later form the core of the congressional district he would represent. The greater New Orleans area, with its blend of cultural traditions and suburban communities in Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes, shaped Scalise's political identity and constituency base. He attended local schools in the Jefferson Parish area before pursuing higher education at Louisiana State University.

The political and cultural environment of southeastern Louisiana, with its long history of colorful and consequential politics, provided the backdrop for Scalise's formative years. Jefferson Parish, where much of his district is centered, had been a reliably conservative area and a stronghold for Republican candidates in statewide and national elections.

Education

Scalise attended Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. His background in technology and systems analysis distinguished him from many of his peers in Louisiana politics and would later inform his interest in technology policy during his congressional career. Scalise has maintained ties to his alma mater throughout his career. In 2018, he delivered a speech at LSU, reflecting on his experiences in public service and his recovery from the 2017 shooting.

Career

Louisiana State Legislature

Before entering federal politics, Scalise served in the Louisiana state legislature. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served three terms representing a district in the greater New Orleans area. His tenure in the state house allowed him to build a legislative record and establish relationships with political figures across the state.

Following his service in the state house, Scalise served approximately four months in the Louisiana State Senate. This brief period in the upper chamber of the state legislature preceded his successful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

Scalise was elected to represent Louisiana's 1st congressional district in 2008. The district encompasses much of the suburban New Orleans area, including the communities of Metairie, Kenner, and Slidell in Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes, as well as a portion of New Orleans itself. The district has been a reliable Republican stronghold, and Scalise has won reelection by substantial margins in subsequent cycles.

Chair of the Republican Study Committee

In January 2013, Scalise assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest caucus of conservative members in the House of Representatives. He succeeded Jim Jordan as chair and served in the role until August 2014. The RSC served as a vehicle for advancing conservative policy positions within the House Republican Conference, and Scalise's leadership of the group raised his profile among his colleagues and positioned him for a future run at a leadership position.

During his time as RSC chair, Scalise navigated internal Republican debates over fiscal policy, government spending, and the national debt. The period coincided with significant legislative battles over the debt ceiling and federal budget.

House Majority Whip (2014–2019)

On June 19, 2014, Scalise was elected by his Republican colleagues to serve as House Majority Whip, one of the most powerful positions in the lower chamber of Congress. He officially assumed the office on August 1, 2014, succeeding Kevin McCarthy, who had been elevated to House Majority Leader.

Scalise's election as majority whip was historically significant. He became the first member of Congress from Louisiana to serve as majority whip since Hale Boggs, who represented Louisiana's 2nd congressional district and held the position from 1962 to 1971. The whip's primary responsibility is to count votes and ensure that party members support the leadership's legislative agenda on the House floor, a role that requires extensive interpersonal skills and an ability to negotiate with members across the ideological spectrum of the party.

As whip, Scalise played a central role in advancing the Republican legislative agenda during the final two years of the Obama administration and the first two years of the Trump administration. His responsibilities included marshaling votes for major legislation, managing the floor schedule in coordination with the majority leader and speaker, and serving as a key liaison between the party leadership and rank-and-file members.

In 2017, Scalise became the dean of the Louisiana congressional delegation upon the retirement of Senator David Vitter, giving him additional influence as the most senior member of the state's representatives and senators in Washington.

2017 Congressional Baseball Shooting

On June 14, 2017, Scalise was shot and critically wounded while practicing with the Republican team for the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Virginia. The shooter, James T. Hodgkinson, was a 66-year-old man from Belleville, Illinois, who had expressed strong anti-Republican political views and specifically targeted Republican members of Congress.

Scalise was struck by a rifle round that fractured bones, injured internal organs, and caused severe bleeding. He was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he underwent multiple surgeries and was listed in critical condition for several days. The shooting also wounded several others at the practice, including a congressional aide, a lobbyist, and a member of the U.S. Capitol Police detail assigned to protect Scalise in his capacity as a member of the House leadership.

The Capitol Police officers present at the practice engaged Hodgkinson in a gun battle, ultimately shooting and killing him. Security experts and members of Congress noted that the presence of Scalise's security detail — which was assigned because of his leadership position — likely prevented far greater casualties, as rank-and-file members of Congress do not receive personal security details.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the shooting. The bureau's initial characterization of the incident generated controversy, and the FBI later changed its designation of the shooting following a complaint from Representative Brad Wenstrup, who had been present at the practice and provided first aid to Scalise.

Scalise underwent an extended period of hospitalization, surgeries, and rehabilitation. He returned to the House floor on September 28, 2017, more than three months after the shooting. His return was greeted with a standing ovation from members of both parties, a rare moment of bipartisan unity in a deeply polarized Congress.

House Minority Whip (2019–2023)

Following the 2018 midterm elections, in which Democrats gained a majority in the House of Representatives, Scalise transitioned from majority whip to House Minority Whip, effective January 3, 2019. In this capacity, he served under Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and was responsible for maintaining party discipline and vote-counting operations for the Republican minority.

During the period of Democratic control of the House from 2019 to 2023, Scalise served as a prominent spokesman for the Republican opposition. He was succeeded in the majority whip position by Democrat Jim Clyburn, while the Democratic minority whip position that Scalise assumed had previously been held by Steny Hoyer. Scalise's counterpart on the Democratic side became Katherine Clark, who succeeded him as minority whip when Republicans regained the majority.

House Majority Leader (2023–present)

When Republicans regained control of the House following the 2022 midterm elections, Scalise was elected House Majority Leader, assuming the position on January 3, 2023. He succeeded Democrat Steny Hoyer, who had held the position during the previous Congress. As majority leader, Scalise is the second-ranking member of the House Republican leadership and is responsible for scheduling legislation for floor consideration, coordinating the legislative agenda, and serving as the primary floor strategist for the majority party.

In his capacity as majority leader, Scalise has overseen the House legislative calendar and floor operations for the 118th and 119th Congresses. In November 2025, he released the 2026 legislative calendar for the second session of the 119th Congress.

As of February 2026, Scalise has continued to serve as a leading spokesperson for the House Republican majority on domestic and foreign policy matters. He has appeared on national news programs, including CBS's Face the Nation and CBS Mornings, to discuss topics including economic policy and national security. In February 2026, Scalise discussed Iran's nuclear program and the potential for U.S. military action, stating on CBS that Iran had not abandoned efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Scalise has also promoted legislation on the House floor, including the SAVE America Act, which he described as a measure to strengthen election integrity.

2023 Speaker of the House Nomination

In October 2023, following the unprecedented removal of Speaker Kevin McCarthy through a motion to vacate the chair, the House Republican Conference held an internal election to select a nominee for the speakership. On October 11, 2023, Scalise defeated Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio in the conference vote to become the Republican nominee for Speaker.

However, Scalise's nomination quickly encountered difficulties. A number of Republican members indicated they would not support him on the House floor, where he would need a majority of the full House — not merely a majority of the Republican Conference — to be elected Speaker. Facing the prospect of failing to secure the 217 votes necessary for election, Scalise withdrew his candidacy on October 12, 2023, just one day after winning the nomination. The speakership eventually went to Mike Johnson, who was elected later that month.

Legislative Priorities and Policy Positions

As a Republican leader, Scalise has focused on a range of policy areas during his congressional career. In the 119th Congress, his office has promoted legislation related to energy policy, including measures concerning the Department of Energy's regulation of home appliances. He has also promoted STEM education initiatives through the Congressional App Challenge, announcing winners from schools within his district.

Personal Life

Scalise resides in the New Orleans metropolitan area within his congressional district. In November 2025, he paid tribute on the House floor to his longtime chief of staff, Brett Horton, who had served in his office for many years.

The 2017 shooting had a profound impact on Scalise's personal life and physical health. He underwent multiple surgeries and an extended rehabilitation following the attack, and has spoken publicly about his recovery and the ongoing effects of his injuries. His return to the House floor in September 2017 was a significant personal milestone that drew bipartisan recognition.

Scalise has spoken publicly about the role of his family and faith during his recovery from the shooting, and the experience has informed his public statements on issues of political violence, security for elected officials, and national unity.

Recognition

Scalise's survival of the 2017 shooting and his subsequent return to Congress drew national and international attention. His reappearance on the House floor on September 28, 2017, was met with a prolonged standing ovation from members of both parties, an event widely covered in the national media.

His election as House Majority Whip in 2014 was noted as a historic milestone for Louisiana, as he became the first representative from the state to hold the position since Hale Boggs more than four decades earlier. His subsequent rise to House Majority Leader further cemented his status as one of the most prominent Louisiana politicians of his generation.

Scalise's nomination for Speaker of the House in October 2023, while ultimately unsuccessful, demonstrated his standing within the Republican Conference and his role as a central figure in House Republican politics during a period of significant internal party turbulence.

The Washington Post profiled Scalise during his rise through the Republican leadership ranks, highlighting his path from Louisiana state politics to one of the highest-ranking positions in the U.S. House of Representatives.