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There’s an unwritten rule about being a congressional staffer: be seen but not heard. Yet, congressional staff also get a front-row seat working with Louisiana’s current and future generation of political leaders. 

I spent nearly 20 years as a congressional staffer, on Capitol Hill and in Louisiana, and have worked as an aide on both policy and state affairs. I happened to start my career at the beginning of Louisiana’s shift to being a Republican-dominated state. 

Many may think our federal politics is a world separate and apart from state politics, but they are very much connected. 

I first met Cameron Henry when he was an aide to then-state Sen. Steve Scalise, escorting him to the House side of the U.S. Capitol. He’s now the Louisiana Senate president. 

As a policy advisor to U.S. Sen. David Vitter, I worked closely with then-State Treasurer John Kennedy on major policy reform proposals in Louisiana. He’s now one of the most recognizable U.S. senators in the country.  

While I was working for Congressman Scalise at the Republican Study Committee, we were preparing to launch a major legislative initiative in 2013.  Our team was working with outside policy experts to review and react to it. One member of the team commented “(then-attorney) Mike Johnson looked it over and thinks it’s great.” Ten years later, Johnson would become the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Election rumors and speculation are a time-honored tradition in politics, especially in Louisiana. Who’s running or positioning to get this or that office.  Who’s going to be the next governor, senator or congressman. 

While those games and conversations are fun, the reality is many aspiring and emerging Louisiana political figures work with the federal delegation and work with their congressional staff. 

Louisiana congressional staff often function as the eyes and ears of the member.  

A senator or congressman has a finite amount of time, and deals with seemingly endless requests for meetings and fielding calls, text messages and emails.  Because a senator or congressman’s time is often short, their staff can handle the prep and backend work. Staff sees, hears and studies what members may not have time to do themselves and fills in those gaps. 

In doing that work, congressional staff also sees the political moves by ambitious politicians and leaders. It’s a behind-the-scenes view of our current and next generation of Louisiana political leaders working and maneuvering toward higher office or leadership. 

Being a congressional staffer can be a Louisiana politics masterclass learning experience. Our state’s federal delegation has historically punched above our weight, and Louisiana is doing that now more than ever. 

I’ve been able to see and learn what works, and what doesn’t work so well. I’ve also been fortunate enough to learn from watching those working to ascend up the political ladder. 

It’s Louisiana-style politics in Washington, D.C. 

Michael Wong is president and founder of W Strategies Group. He has nearly 20 years of political experience, including in presidential, senate and congressional elections, and worked for several years as a senior congressional aide for the Louisiana delegation.

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