Candidates emerge for soon-vacant Public Service Commission seat

Transmission towers carry electricity in LaPlace on Dec. 28, 2021. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

One race in this November’s election will be for perhaps the most influential seat on one of the most powerful state-level boards in Louisiana. Last week’s news that an incumbent won’t seek reelection is prompting considerable interest from three potential Republican candidates, and it remains to be seen if Democrats can develop a viable candidate.

Up for grabs is the District 2 seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). The incumbent, Craig Greene, made headlines last week when he announced this year will be his eighth and final on the commission. An orthopedic surgeon, Greene said he wants to spend more time with his family and patients. 

The Public Service Commission regulates energy policy and public utilities, such as Entergy and Atmos. Although commissioners aren’t considered full-time elected officials, they represent large constituencies and have great influence on things that directly affect their daily lives. They get to decide how electricity and other forms of energy are generated and determine the price at which it is sold to customers. 

Greene, a moderate Republican, holds enormous power as the lone swing vote between two GOP members and two Democrats on the panel. He has wielded that influence in subtle but impactful ways, casting the deciding vote on several controversial proposals. Whoever takes his seat gets to decide whether to hold onto that power with a similarly moderate stance or relinquish it and toe the party line. 

The qualifying dates for the race are July 17 through July 19.

So far, three Republicans have confirmed their intent to qualify for the election: state Sen. Jean-Paul Coussan of Lafayette and former state representatives Barry Ivey of Central and Scott McKnight of Baton Rouge.  

“The news that Commissioner Green will not be seeking re-election is very unexpected,” Ivey said. “I have had people reach out to me, and it is something I am considering.”

McKnight has unofficially declared his LPSC candidacy on social media. 

Some have speculated that U.S. Rep. Garret Graves could also make a run for the seat. State lawmakers redrew Graves’ Republican stronghold into a majority-Black congressional district, sidelining his chances for reelection. 

Coussan said he is preparing a campaign team but is “anxious” to hear whether Graves decides to run, though a Graves candidacy wouldn’t necessarily discourage his own, he said. Coussan would not have to give up his state senate seat to join the race.  

“I do think I would be able to hit the ground running,” Graves told Jeremy Alford on Friday’s LaPolitics Report podcast. “I’ve done a lot of work with climate and energy issues.”

Graves said he is not at the point where he would make a decision on running for the Public Service Commission, although he has ruled out running for Baton Rouge mayor.

So far, no Democrats have announced their intentions to run, though Commissioner Davanté Lewis, D-Baton Rouge, said he is confident the Louisiana Democratic Party will field a candidate. 

Former congressional candidate and U.S. Navy pilot Luke Mixon’s name was floated as a potential Democratic candidate, but he told the Illuminator on Monday that he has no plans to run. 

The Public Service Commission 2nd District includes the Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Houma-Thibodaux areas. 

Conservative candidates will have an edge in the race with 76% of registered voters in the district being white, but a number of factors could still tilt it towards a more progressive or moderate candidate, according to pollster John Couvillon with JMC Analytics. 

“In previous elections, there was kind of a gravitational pull between the Baton Rouge area and the rest of the district,” Couvillon said. 

A substantial portion, roughly 40%, of the votes come from the East Baton Rouge Parish area. About 30% are in the Lafayette area, and another 22% come from Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. 

The district supported Donald Trump with 70% of the vote in the 2020 presidential election. 

Such figures could prompt Democrats to play it safe by throwing their support behind a moderate Republican or independent who has a base of support in Lafayette or the Bayou Parishes. 

One possible scenario is if several hard-right candidates from the Baton Rouge area enter the race, they could split the Republican vote enough to allow for a moderate Republican or independent from Houma to win in the primary with support from their hometown and from Democrats in Baton Rouge, Couvillon said. 

On the other side, a race with multiple Democrats could easily tank the party’s chances and hand the GOP an easy win, he said.

The district includes about 960,000 people, of whom roughly 600,000 are registered to vote.

“These are races that require substantial investment,” Couvillon said. “We’re talking some massive districts here.”

Greene won the seat during an off-year special election in 2017 with a very well-funded campaign, he said. 

“I think it’s tough but not dead on arrival,” Lewis said of a Democratic victory. “The issues at the PSC aren’t partisan. Voters want someone to stand up for them, keep their rates low and improve our electric grid.” 

Perhaps the only path for a Democratic victory would require getting into a December runoff and sharing a ballot with a Baton Rouge mayoral runoff election, Couvillon said. Democrats in Baton Rouge would be compelled to turn out for the mayoral runoff and get to vote in the PSC runoff while voters outside of Baton Rouge would be more likely to stay home, no longer paying attention to politics a month after the presidential election.  

“That could certainly benefit a Democrat in a PSC runoff,” Couvillon said.

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