The South is the new political center, Landrieu says
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Former Mayor Mitch Landrieu co-hosts a new political docuseries. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
A new docuseries co-hosted by former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu contends that the South is "new epicenter of American politics and culture."
Why it matters: Something's happening to give some Southern Democrat candidates real chances at statewide office, he tells Axios New Orleans, and it's bringing real political power southward.
The big picture: "There is a new thing forming" in American politics, Landrieu says. "It is a very uncertain, chaotic, unorganized time in politics in the country, and it's going to be interesting to see what comes out of it."
- "Long Play" is now streaming on YouTube and as a podcast, and Landrieu hosts the series alongside Jennifer Palmieri and Errin Haines.
- It explores what's behind states like North Carolina, Georgia and Texas putting up Democrats as real contenders in statewide offices this fall, especially as the Callais decision ripples outward.
State of play: "Every election is different," Landrieu says, "and candidate selection matters," but with Democratic candidates in Mississippi and Texas mounting competitive races for U.S. Senate, that's worth sitting up and paying attention.
- "They're part of a trend, but they're also isolated instances," Landrieu says. "That's why we're doing this documentary. We're going around talking to people and trying to figure out: Is this left? Is it right? Is it middle? Is it just a whole new mix of a whole bunch of other stuff that maybe we don't understand?"
The intrigue: Each "Long Play" episode focuses on a different Southern state, but despite Landrieu's background, Louisiana may not make the cut.
- Rep. Julia Letlow is expected to beat out Democrat Jamie Davis for the Senate seat here in November, which would be par for the course for the state currently.
- "Louisiana is further behind in Democrats coming back than North Carolina, in Georgia, and maybe even in Texas," Landrieu says. "It's going to take time to build that back. ... Louisiana has kind of always operated on its own timeline."
The bottom line: Can Louisiana elect another statewide Democrat anytime soon?
- "The playing field is changing very rapidly," Landrieu says, but yes.
- "We got to work at it, and we got to build it, and we got to find good candidates, and we have to have good resources," he says. "And we have to have deliverable wins."