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|residence=River Ridge in [[Lafayette]] Parish  

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'''William Harold Nungesser''', known as '''Billy Nungesser''' (born January 10, 1959), is the 54th and current Lieutenant Governor of [[Louisiana]], a position which he has filled since January 11, 2016. In Louisiana, the lieutenant governor does not preside over the state Senate but is instead the state's chief tourism officer.  

'''William Harold Nungesser''', known as '''Billy Nungesser''' (born January 10, 1959), is the 54th and current Lieutenant Governor of [[Louisiana]], a position which he has filled since January 11, 2016. In Louisiana, the lieutenant governor no longer presides over the state Senate but is instead the state's chief tourism officer.  

A [[Moderate Republican]], Nungesser was from 2007 to 2015 the president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission in the [[suburb]]s of his native [[New Orleans]]. In that capacity he worked diligently in hurricane relief. Former [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]] appointed him to the 20-member Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, a panel named to formulate a master plan for coastal protection. Since leaving the parish presidency in 2015, Nungesser relocated to River Ridge in [[Lafayette]] Parish.

A [[Moderate Republican]], Nungesser was from 2007 to 2015 the president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission in the [[suburb]]s of his native [[New Orleans]]. In that capacity he worked diligently in hurricane relief. Former [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]] appointed him to the 20-member Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, a panel named to formulate a master plan for coastal protection. Since leaving the parish presidency in 2015, Nungesser relocated to River Ridge in [[Lafayette]] Parish.

In 1991, Nungesser launched his business, General Marine Leasing Company, which began with a $7,500 loan and grew to a $20 million operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/lt-governor/index|title=Nungesser Biography|publisher=Crt.state.la.us|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref>

In 1991, Nungesser launched his business, General Marine Leasing Company, which began with a $7,500 loan and grew to a $20 million operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/lt-governor/index|title=Nungesser Biography|publisher=Crt.state.la.us|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref>

In 2011, Nungesser while still the Plaquemines Parish president waged an unsuccessful race against sitting Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, another Moderate Republican and former state senator from [[Baton Rouge]]. Dardenne received 504,541 votes (53 percent) to Nungesser's 445,049 (47 percent). Nungesser defeated Dardenne in seventeen parishes, all in south Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical

In 2011, Nungesser while still the Plaquemines Parish president waged an unsuccessful race against then sitting Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, another Moderate Republican and former state senator from [[Baton Rouge]]. Dardenne received 504,541 votes (53 percent) to Nungesser's 445,049 (47 percent). Nungesser defeated Dardenne in seventeen parishes, all in south Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical

|title=Election Returns|date=October 22, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref> In 2015, Nungesser prevailed in a runoff contest with the [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Melvin Lee "Kip" Holden, the then Baton Rouge Mayor-President, 628,864 votes (55.38 percent) to 506,578 (44.62 percent). Democrat [[John Bel Edwards]] won the governorship to succeed Jindal in the same contest over the Republican choice, then [[United States Senator]] [[David Vitter]], a Republican.

|title=Election Returns|date=October 22, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref> In 2015, Nungesser prevailed in a runoff contest with the [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Melvin Lee "Kip" Holden, the then Baton Rouge Mayor-President, 628,864 votes (55.38 percent) to 506,578 (44.62 percent). Democrat [[John Bel Edwards]] won the governorship to succeed Jindal in the same contest over the Republican choice, then [[United States Senator]] [[David Vitter]], a Republican who fell out of favor with voters because of an earlier sex scandal.

In 2016, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser said that he believes voter fraud by the Democratic Party is still a serious hurdle for Republicans in Louisiana because registered and unregistered voters are bussed to polling cites and merely sign a sheet of paper to have their votes count. His remarks drew a quick rebuke from then Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]], who called the comments "at a minimum uninformed. [He] quite possibly [made] an insult to not only my office, but also our hard-working clerks of court and registrars of voters who are our trusted partners for every election." Schedler who subsequently resigned his position in a sexual harassment scandal. Nungessersaid that his comments referred to a local election in Plaquemines Parish in 2005, not Schedler's operation in Baton Rouge, of which Nungesser had been supportive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d424cb84-4863-11e6-b16a-a7d7592a06ff.html|title=Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser draws ire of Secretary of State Tom Schedler with statements about voting laws|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=July 12, 2016|accessdate=February 6, 2020|author=Elizabeth Crisp}}</ref>

In 2016, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser said that he believes voter fraud by the Democratic Party is still a serious hurdle for Republicans in Louisiana because registered and unregistered voters are bussed to polling cites and merely sign a sheet of paper to have their votes count. His remarks drew a quick rebuke from then Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]], who called the comments "at a minimum uninformed. [He] quite possibly [made] an insult to not only my office, but also our hard-working clerks of court and registrars of voters who are our trusted partners for every election." Schedler who subsequently resigned his position in a sexual harassment scandal. Nungessersaid that his comments referred to a local election in Plaquemines Parish in 2005, not Schedler's operation in Baton Rouge, of which Nungesser had been supportive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d424cb84-4863-11e6-b16a-a7d7592a06ff.html|title=Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser draws ire of Secretary of State Tom Schedler with statements about voting laws|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=July 12, 2016|accessdate=February 6, 2020|author=Elizabeth Crisp}}</ref>

Though he has in the past been considered a [[conservative]], Nungesser in May 2018 came to the defense of Governor John Bel Edwards regarding a tax increase to close a longstanding budget deficit. Nungesser criticized conservative state Representative [[Blake Miguez]] of New Iberia, who questioned the comments of the lieutenant governor. [[Radio]] talk show shot [[Moon Griffon]] criticized Nungesser for coming to Edwards' defense and questioned whether Nungesser is now a Moderate Republican and no longer a conservative. Griffon said that Nungesser's willingness to "reach across the aisle" is troubling.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 30, 2018.</ref>  

Though he has in the past been considered a [[conservative]], Nungesser in May 2018 came to the defense of Governor John Bel Edwards regarding a tax increase to close a longstanding budget deficit. Nungesser criticized conservative state Representative [[Blake Miguez]] of New Iberia, who questioned the comments of the lieutenant governor. [[Radio]] talk show shot [[Moon Griffon]] criticized Nungesser for coming to Edwards' defense and questioned whether Nungesser is now a Moderate Republican and no longer a conservative. Griffon said that Nungesser's willingness to "reach across the aisle" is troubling.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 30, 2018.</ref>  

As of October 18, 2019, Nungesser was the only elected statewide official who did not endorse the Republican gubernatorial candidate, [[Eddie Rispone]]. He would not accept phone calls to explain why he did not endorse Rispone, a Baton Rouge businessman. Griffon suggested that Nungesser may have been supporting Governor Edwards,<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' October 18, 2019.</ref> who ultimately won a second term with his 51-49 percent victory over Rispone.

As of October 18, 2019, Nungesser was the only elected statewide official who did not endorse the Republican gubernatorial candidate, [[Eddie Rispone]]. He would not accept phone calls to explain why he did not endorse Rispone, a Baton Rouge businessman who lost the race.

Griffon suggested that Nungesser may have been supporting Governor Edwards,<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' October 18, 2019.</ref> who ultimately won a second term with his 51-49 percent victory, or exactly forty thousand votes, over Rispone.

With 678,521 votes (66 percent) Nungesser won reelection to his third term as lieutenant governor in the October 14, 2023, nonpartisan blanket primary. His opponents included two fellow Republicans, African-American former State Senator Elbert Guillory, who polled 6 percent of the ballots cast, and Tami Hotard as well as the Democrat Willie Jones, who carried [[New Orleans]], the Independent Bruce Payton, and the No Party choice, Gary Rispone, an older brother of the 2019 Republican gubernatorial nominee Eddie Rispone.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 14, 2023.</ref>

With 678,521 votes (66 percent) Nungesser won reelection to his third term as lieutenant governor in the October 14, 2023, nonpartisan blanket primary. His opponents included two fellow Republicans, African-American former State Senator Elbert Guillory, who polled 6 percent of the ballots cast, and Tami Hotard as well as the Democrat Willie Jones, who carried [[New Orleans]], the Independent Bruce Payton, and the No Party choice, Gary Rispone, an older brother of the 2019 Republican gubernatorial nominee Eddie Rispone.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 14, 2023.</ref>