Billy Nungesser

Billy Nungesser
Nungesser in 2019
Billy Nungesser
Born	William Harold Nungesser 10 1, 1959
Birthplace	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, Plaquemines Parish President during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Spouse(s)	Cher Taffarro
Website	[http://www.billynungesser.com/ Official site]

William Harold Nungesser (born January 10, 1959) is an American politician serving as the 54th Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana since January 2016. A member of the Republican Party, Nungesser first gained national prominence as president of Plaquemines Parish during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, when his vocal criticism of the federal government's response and of BP's cleanup efforts made him a frequent presence on national news broadcasts. Before entering parish government, he served as chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party from 1988 to 1992. As lieutenant governor, Nungesser oversees the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Louisiana State Parks system, and the state's cultural and recreational assets. He has served under Governors John Bel Edwards and Jeff Landry, and from 2019 to 2020 he chaired the National Lieutenant Governors Association. Throughout his career in Louisiana politics, Nungesser has been characterized by an outspoken, populist style and a willingness to challenge figures within his own party on issues ranging from immigration enforcement to election reform.

Early Life

William Harold Nungesser was born on January 10, 1959, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was raised in the New Orleans metropolitan area with deep family ties to Plaquemines Parish, the narrow, low-lying stretch of land that extends along the Mississippi River south of the city toward the Gulf of Mexico. The parish, long defined by its fishing, oil, and shipping industries, would become central to Nungesser's political identity and career.

Nungesser's mother, Ruth Amelia Marks Nungesser, was a lifelong resident of the region. Growing up in south Louisiana, Nungesser developed a familiarity with the region's unique geography, culture, and economic challenges—experiences that shaped his later advocacy for coastal restoration and disaster response.

Before entering politics, Nungesser was involved in business ventures in the New Orleans area. His early career exposed him to the commercial and industrial landscape of south Louisiana, providing him with connections and experience that would later inform his approach to governance in Plaquemines Parish, where the economy is heavily dependent on the oil and gas sector, commercial fishing, and port activities.

Career

Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party

Nungesser's entry into political life came at a relatively young age. In 1988, at the age of 29, he was selected to serve as chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, succeeding Donald Bollinger. He held the position until 1992, when he was succeeded by Dud Lastrapes. During this period, Louisiana's political landscape was undergoing a transformation, with the Republican Party making significant inroads in a state that had been dominated by Democrats for much of the 20th century. As party chairman, Nungesser was tasked with organizing, fundraising, and building the Republican infrastructure in Louisiana during a period of partisan realignment across the American South.

President of Plaquemines Parish

In 2006, Nungesser ran for president of Plaquemines Parish, a position that serves as the chief executive of the parish government. He won the election, succeeding Benny Rousselle, and took office on January 2, 2007. Plaquemines Parish, which had suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and from earlier storms, was still in the process of rebuilding when Nungesser assumed office.

As parish president, Nungesser focused on recovery efforts, coastal erosion issues, and the economic challenges facing the communities that stretch along both sides of the Mississippi River in the lower parish. The region's vulnerability to hurricanes, flooding, and the ongoing loss of coastal wetlands made disaster preparedness and environmental advocacy central themes of his tenure.

In 2008, Plaquemines Parish was again battered by Hurricane Gustav, which caused significant damage to infrastructure and homes in the low-lying parish. Nungesser's handling of the storm response and recovery contributed to his reputation as an assertive, hands-on local leader.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Nungesser's national profile rose dramatically in the spring and summer of 2010 during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest marine oil spill in history, which began on April 20, 2010, when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Plaquemines Parish, situated at the mouth of the Mississippi River and fronting extensive Gulf coastline, was among the areas most directly threatened by the spreading oil.

From the earliest days of the disaster, Nungesser became one of the most visible local officials speaking out against what he described as an inadequate and slow response by both BP and the federal government. He appeared frequently on national television, including multiple appearances on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360° and other major news programs, describing the impact of the spill on his parish's environment, fishing industry, and communities.

The New York Times profiled Nungesser in June 2010, describing his efforts to draw attention to the environmental damage in Plaquemines Parish and his confrontations with BP officials and federal authorities over the pace of the cleanup. The Huffington Post described Nungesser as "the face" of the oil spill response at the local level, noting his emotional and persistent advocacy for his parish's fishing communities and fragile coastal ecosystems.

Nungesser was particularly vocal about the proposal to build sand berms along the Louisiana coastline to block oil from reaching interior marshlands. He pushed aggressively for federal approval of the berm plan, which was controversial among some scientists and engineers who questioned its effectiveness and environmental impact. His public clashes with federal officials and BP representatives over the berm project and other cleanup measures drew significant media attention throughout the summer of 2010.

The spill had a devastating effect on Plaquemines Parish's fishing and oyster industries, and Nungesser became a symbol of local frustration with the disaster's management. His tearful, impassioned appeals on television helped keep national attention focused on the ongoing environmental damage to Louisiana's coast.

Re-election as Parish President

Nungesser was re-elected as president of Plaquemines Parish in the 2010 general election, defeating two opponents with more than 71 percent of the vote. His strong margin of victory was attributed in part to the high visibility and perceived effectiveness of his advocacy during the oil spill crisis. His second term as parish president began on January 1, 2011, and ended on January 5, 2015.

Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana

2015 Campaign

In 2015, Nungesser ran for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana. The lieutenant governor in Louisiana serves as the state's chief ambassador for tourism, culture, and recreation, overseeing agencies including the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Office of State Parks, the Louisiana State Museum, and the Office of Cultural Development.

Nungesser advanced to the general runoff election on October 24, 2015. He won the runoff on November 21, 2015, securing the office of lieutenant governor. He succeeded Jay Dardenne, who had held the position since 2010, and took office on January 11, 2016.

Tourism and State Parks

As lieutenant governor, Nungesser has focused on promoting Louisiana as a tourism destination, emphasizing the state's food, music, festivals, and outdoor recreation. He has undertaken promotional tours both domestically and internationally to attract visitors to the state. In September 2025, Nungesser conducted a week-long promotional tour in Canada, seeking to encourage Canadian tourism to Louisiana. During the trip, he reported encountering reluctance among some Canadians to visit the United States due to political tensions related to comments made by President Donald Trump about Canada. Nungesser publicly acknowledged the challenge that national political rhetoric posed to Louisiana's tourism economy, an unusual step for a Republican officeholder.

In February 2026, Nungesser visited Northeast Louisiana to promote anti-littering education programs and to discuss storm recovery efforts in the region. He emphasized that faster debris cleanup following storms was critical to maintaining the appeal of Louisiana's natural areas for tourism and recreation.

Nungesser has also spoken publicly about tourism during Louisiana's Carnival season, discussing the economic impact of Mardi Gras and related cultural events on the state's hospitality industry.

National Lieutenant Governors Association

From 2019 to 2020, Nungesser served as chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association, succeeding Mike Cooney of Montana and being succeeded by Bethany Hall-Long of Delaware.

Immigration and Border Patrol Controversy

In December 2025, Nungesser attracted attention for publicly criticizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations in southeast Louisiana. He characterized the agency's immigration enforcement sweeps as indiscriminate and harmful to the state's economy, particularly its tourism and hospitality industries, which rely on immigrant labor. Nungesser stated that "there's a better way" to enforce immigration laws without disrupting local communities and businesses.

The comments drew criticism from some within the Republican Party, and Nungesser subsequently issued clarifying statements, affirming his support for border security while maintaining his objection to the methods used in the specific Louisiana operations. The episode highlighted tensions within Louisiana's Republican establishment between supporters of aggressive federal immigration enforcement and those concerned about its economic effects on industries dependent on immigrant workers.

In January 2026, the Louisiana Republican Party voted to officially endorse President Trump's immigration policies, a move that underscored the party-line position from which Nungesser had publicly deviated.

Opposition to Closed Primaries

In October 2025, Nungesser publicly opposed Louisiana's legislative move to transition from an open-primary election system to closed-party primaries for certain state races, a change set to take effect in 2026. Louisiana had used its distinctive open-primary system—often called the "jungle primary"—for decades, in which all candidates regardless of party appear on a single ballot and the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff if no candidate receives a majority.

Nungesser argued that the open-primary system had served Louisiana well and that the shift to closed primaries was rushed through the legislature without sufficient public input. Writing in NOLA.com, he stated: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Keep elections open and trust the people." His opposition to the closed-primary measure placed him at odds with other Republican leaders in the state who supported the change.

Personal Life

Billy Nungesser is married to Cher Taffarro. The couple resides in Louisiana. Nungesser's mother, Ruth Amelia Marks Nungesser, was memorialized in an obituary published in The Times-Picayune.

Nungesser maintains deep personal ties to Plaquemines Parish and south Louisiana, and his public persona has been closely associated with the region's culture, cuisine, and way of life. His emotional advocacy during the 2010 oil spill, including tearful television appearances describing the destruction of coastal marshlands, became a defining element of his public image.

Recognition

Nungesser's role during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill brought him significant national recognition. He was profiled by The New York Times, CNN, the Huffington Post, and numerous other national media outlets during the spring and summer of 2010. His persistent appearances on national television to advocate for Plaquemines Parish made him one of the most recognizable local officials associated with the disaster.

His election as chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association in 2019 represented a measure of recognition from his peers among the nation's lieutenant governors.

Nungesser's re-election as Plaquemines Parish president in 2010 with more than 71 percent of the vote reflected strong local support during a period of crisis for the parish.

Legacy

Billy Nungesser's career in Louisiana politics has spanned more than three decades, from his early role as chairman of the state Republican Party in the late 1980s to his ongoing service as lieutenant governor. His most prominent moment on the national stage came during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, when he served as a vocal and emotional advocate for the communities of Plaquemines Parish and the broader Louisiana coast. His confrontations with BP and federal officials over the pace and adequacy of the oil spill response helped keep national media attention focused on the disaster's impact on Louisiana's environment and economy.

As lieutenant governor, Nungesser has been notable for his willingness to publicly dissent from positions held by other members of his own party. His criticism of federal immigration enforcement operations in Louisiana and his opposition to the shift from open to closed primaries have distinguished him from many of his Republican colleagues in the state. His focus on tourism promotion, including international outreach and candid assessments of the impact of national politics on Louisiana's tourism economy, has defined his approach to the lieutenant governor's office.

Nungesser's political trajectory—from party chairman to parish president to lieutenant governor—reflects the evolution of Republican politics in Louisiana over the past four decades. His career has been shaped by the recurring challenges that define south Louisiana governance: hurricanes, coastal erosion, oil spills, and the balancing of economic development with environmental protection.