WASHINGTON — Pete November, the CEO of Ochsner Health, and Peighton Ashley, a pre-med student at Xavier University in New Orleans, will be the next king and queen of Washington Mardi Gras, the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians announced Wednesday.
As chair and interim captain of the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians and chair of the 78th edition of Washington Mardi Gras, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise chooses the king and queen. The royalty becomes the public face of the event. They officially open and close festivities.
November has been president and chief executive officer since 2022 of Ochsner Health System, which is headquartered close to Scalise’s home in Jefferson, a community between Metairie and the Mississippi River. Ochsner runs 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
He served on the Healthcare Transition Committee for Gov. Jeff Landry and co-chaired the Economic Development Transition Committee for New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno.
November has shepherded the organization through several significant partnerships, convening community leaders across Louisiana and the Gulf South. Ochsner is investing more than $450 million in improved facilities and infrastructure and is now partnering with Xavier University of Louisiana to create the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine.
Ashley, who graduated valedictorian in May from Liberty Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, will attend Xavier University this fall, where she plans to major in Psychology while pursuing a pre-med track.
She also earned an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts with a perfect 4.0 grade point average at Baton Rouge Community College.
Ashley is completing an internship with ExxonMobil in the Public and Government Affairs Department, where she specializes in social media and helps promote STEM professions throughout the Baton Rouge community.
She was a member of the Louisiana Leadership Institute’s Leadership Academy and received the Louisiana Volunteer Service Award.
The dean of Louisiana’s eight-member congressional delegation, Scalise, R-Jefferson, was first elected to the House in 2008. He has ascended to the second-highest leadership position, behind House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, in the lower chamber.
An annual extravaganza
The Mystick Krewe of Louisianians was created by the late-Sen. Russell Long, D-Baton Rouge, to organize and handle the finances of the annual event.
What began as an ad hoc celebration by homesick congressional staffers in the 1940s morphed into a more organized Carnival event attended by high-level politicos, such as Vice President Richard Nixon (twice), Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson (multiple times) and Chief U.S. Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren.
Washington Mardi Gras has become an annual retreat for local, state and federal politicians to socialize casually with Louisiana business moguls, university presidents, charity leaders and trade association executives.
Paid for by dues, tickets and donations, public access to Washington Mardi Gras is restricted and media coverage limited to foster unguarded conversations that gets business done, participants say.
The Louisiana Ethics Board allows elected officials to pay for their expenses out of campaign funds.
The official Washington Mardi Gras events take place at the Washington Hilton and usually begin on a Wednesday afternoon, this year on January 20.
A number of private trade associations, companies, and lobbyists hold their own parties at various venues around Washington.
In between the toasts, cocktail parties and panel discussions, revelers can stroll down the halls of the Hilton visiting a series of hospitality suites sponsored by corporations, charities, universities, trade associations, politicians and their fundraising arms. The drinks are free — it’s hard to find anything nonalcoholic — and food is always available.
Thursday night is the “Louisiana Alive” party that features Louisiana bands and chefs preparing a variety of dishes unavailable in Washington.
Friday’s main event is the Washington Mardi Gras Economic Development Luncheon & Reception, which gathers more than 300 business, civic and government leaders. It is usually closed to the public. Last year’s guest speaker was Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The 78th edition of the four-day carnival event is capped off with a formal Saturday night January 23 ball, hosted by the king and queen with entourages that include many of the festival queens.
The black-tie ball is open to ticketholders, many of whom wear masks and traditional costumes.
Members of the krewe, including congresspersons, floats and marching bands parade around oval-shaped ballroom, tossing beads.
A royal lineage: See previous Washington Mardi Gras kings and queens here