Gov. Jeff Landry won an inside-the-State-Capitol victory Thursday when Republicans in the Louisiana House of Representatives elected his favored candidate to be their next caucus chair.

Rep. Michael Echols of Monroe notched 39 votes to 33 for Rep. John Illg of Metairie. The election roiled the 73-member House Republican delegation because it pitted two of their members against each other in an election with high stakes internally.

Echols had pledged to put a greater focus on communicating the message – and legislative victories – of House Republicans.

Thursday’s vote would normally attract little notice outside of the State Capitol. But Landry raised the temperature by telling House Republicans that he wanted them to elect Echols as the caucus chair – who organizes Republican strategy

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