We’ve now learned that U.S. Sen. John Kennedy has decided to vote in favor of President Donald Trump’s 5th Circuit nominee, Kyle Duncan, whenever the next opportunity arises, Jeremy Alford notes in his latest column.
“This follows weeks of speculation, some of it in national media coverage, about why Kennedy was withholding support,” Alford writes. “The former Louisiana treasurer had everyone right where he likes them, which is asking, ‘What in the world is John Kennedy up to?’”
Sources tell LaPolitics that Kennedy changed his mind after sitting down with both Duncan and Congressman Mike Johnson of Bossier City last week. Alford cites a “well-placed source” who credits Johnson for flipping Kennedy, adding the two men are becoming close.
While that may be true, Alford notes that Kennedy’s political opponents say the freshman senator was under intense pressure from conservative-leaning and faith-based political groups to support Duncan. He also had to face off against Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who had cut a television commercial in Louisiana promoting Duncan’s nomination.
In reality, Kennedy preferred someone else for the job, namely Chief Judge Robert Summerhays of Lafayette, who presides over the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Alford says. Kennedy also initially preferred U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt, who Trump has tapped for one of Louisiana’s other seats on the 5th Circuit.
Prior to announcing his support for Duncan, Kennedy told supporters he preferred a potential nominee like Summerhays because the bankruptcy judge had judicial experience, Alford notes. Publicly and on-camera, however, Kennedy was suggesting that Duncan didn’t have deep enough roots in the Bayou State.
He also hinted at another judge he deems worthy of a federal judgeship during Duncan’s first hearing before the Judiciary Committee last week, Alford says.
“Anyone who has closely watched Kennedy’s professional career in Louisiana knows he is never above being an opportunist—and that, politically, he plays chess, not checkers. There’s no doubt Kennedy is allowing flames to be lit near political bridges in Washington D.C. and Louisiana,” Alford writes. “During a 36-hour period last week he blamed the White House for poor communications and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy for recommending a flawed nominee in Duncan. But don’t go betting it all on those bridges becoming ashes. Kennedy could be playing the long game and banking on the likelihood that the Trump Administration will sooner than later implode and its commander-in-chief will tank in public opinion polls, even in red-hearted states like Louisiana.”
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
