During his tenure, he supported Louisiana's abortion ban, advocated for prayer in public schools, and challenged Governor John Bel Edwards on LGBT issues.

He signed legislation requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms; that bill is currently blocked by the courts on the grounds that it unconstitutionally violates the separation of church and state.

[2] After graduating from high school, he held various jobs, including sugarcane farm worker, police officer for the village of Parks, and St. Martin Parish sheriff's deputy.

[6] Landry entered the race to represent Louisiana's 3rd congressional district after Democratic incumbent Charlie Melancon relinquished the seat to run for U.S. Senate.

[16] In a June 2012 appearance on a radio program produced by the American Center for Law and Justice, Landry baselessly claimed that the Obama administration was "granting special status or waivers to Muslims as they go through TSA screenings.

[19] Savoie declined to do so, writing that the program "did not require budgetary allocations or divert resources from other areas" and that the university had a responsibility to impartially provide "an opportunity for investigation, analysis, and understanding" of controversial social issues.

[22] In August 2018, Landry indicated that he might forego his bid for reelection as attorney general in 2019 and instead challenge Governor John Bel Edwards, who was seeking a second term.

Landry had broken with Edwards on numerous political issues, including a 2018 voter referendum on requiring unanimous jury consent for felony convictions, rather than 10 of 12 jurors.

[26] In December 2022, an investigation by The Advocate revealed that, starting in 2017, Landry misspent campaign funds on part of a car note on a Chevrolet Suburban.

[32] In August 2012, Landry urged the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to eliminate its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies minor, arguing that it did not align with the college's mission of preparing students for employment.

[35] Soon after taking office as attorney general, Landry became embroiled in a public dispute with Governor Edwards over a lawsuit regarding the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which both men opposed.

[37] In September 2016, Landry announced that he would block Edwards's attempt to require that state contracts protect gay and lesbian employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

[38] He told radio talk show host Moon Griffon that he hoped his legal victory over Edwards would persuade him not to attempt to govern by executive orders to the extent that President Barack Obama did.

[41] In December 2022, as attorney general, Landry established a tip line called "Protecting Minors" to address concerns related to librarians, teachers, and other personnel in schools and libraries.

It allowed people to report complaints about libraries that, according to Landry, do not adequately protect children from issues such as early sexualization, grooming, sex trafficking, and abuse.

NOPD Superintendent Michael S. Harrison said that Landry had ignored the city home rule charter and did not have the authority "to engage in active law enforcement in New Orleans."

[50] In April 2017, Landry again filed suit against Edwards; this time, he disputed the freezing of $4 million in an escrow fund obtained from a pharmaceutical settlement in 2013, when Buddy Caldwell was state attorney general.

[52] In July 2017, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a group of Republican attorneys general from nine other states, including Louisiana, as well as Idaho Governor Butch Otter, in threatening the Donald Trump administration that they would litigate if Trump did not terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that President Obama had put into place.

[53][54] In April 2018, Landry joined U.S. Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana's 4th congressional district and Christian actor Kirk Cameron to argue under the First Amendment for student-led prayer and religious expression in public schools.

[57] On December 8, 2020, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, where certified results showed Joe Biden the electoral victor over President Trump.

[73] On January 7, 2024, Landry took a ceremonial oath and delivered his inaugural address on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol;[74][75][76] the event was held a day before he took office as governor due to expectations for bad weather.

[79] Several political and civil rights groups have claimed the proposed maps are still gerrymandered, with Landry signing the legislation with the intent of unseating Congressman Garret Graves, who endorsed Stephen Waguespack during the gubernatorial election.

[81] He eliminated parole, dramatically cut the ability of convicts to earn points for good behavior in prison, increased penalties for carjackings and weapons offenses, and permitted two more methods of execution (nitrogen gas and electrocution).

[90] Landry said that the law's implementation showed that the Republican "majority gets to rule" in Louisiana, while instructing parents who were opposed to the display of the Commandments: "Tell your child not to look at them".

"This bill protects free speech for everyone but makes it very clear that criminal activity and pro-terrorist, giving support to terrorist groups, does not belong on our college campuses", Hodges said.

[94] In October 2024, Landry held a press conference at LSU's Memorial Tower to announce an executive order aimed at enhancing the protection of free speech on public university campuses.

While these reporting systems are intended to address issues of marginalization, the order warns that they may unintentionally discourage open dialogue and expressive conduct on public post-secondary campuses.

It suggests that, although designed to promote inclusivity, such systems could limit free speech by creating an environment where people feel hesitant to share differing viewpoints.

Johnson issued a temporary restraining order stating that LSU cannot violate Levy's free speech rights and must refrain from any further harassment or retaliation against him.

"[104] Ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Landry invoked emergency powers to destroy the encampments and order the busing of more than 100 unhoused people to a "transitional center" he arranged under a no-bid contract.