Unofficial race for New Orleans' next mayor intensifies

Between the lines: Mayor LaToya Cantrell is term-limited and leaves office in 2026.

The big picture: Candidates have been feeling out options for months, and many appear to be waiting until after the presidential election to announce.

• Here are some of the names insiders say are considering running.

Announced

Belden "Noonie Man" Batiste: The man behind the efforts to recall Cantrell tells Axios he's running a grassroots, self-funded mayoral campaign.

• The community organizer previously has run unsuccessfully for mayor, state representative and City Council.
• He outlined a wide-ranging platform to Axios that includes fixing the city's infrastructure, making working conditions better for city employees, investing in youth and improving life for people in poverty.
• "I'm running on a platform for the people," he said. "We need somebody who can fix the city and I am that person."

Ricky Twiggs: Twiggs, a licensed counselor, announced his candidacy earlier this year as an independent.

• "One party has dominated our politics," he said of the Democratic stronghold in New Orleans. "They've had 150 years to create substantial change and promises have not been fulfilled."
• He tells Axios he's accepting donations but mainly self-funding his campaign. "Money is nice but it doesn't win elections. Votes win elections. I'm investing in voters."
• His platform focuses on anti-corruption, mental health, education reform and modernization of the city's infrastructure and utilities.

Rumored to be running

City Council President Helena Moreno: Moreno has a fundraiser Wednesday at Hilary and Mickey Landry's Uptown home "to support our campaign for the future," according to the invitation.

• Lally Brennan and Ti Martin hosted another fundraiser for her last month at Commander's Palace.
• Neither invitation says what she's campaigning for, but it's a poorly kept secret she's eyeing the mayor's spot.
• Moreno told Axios in a statement that she's focused on budget season and took at jab at the current mayor's office, saying the council is "continuing the extraordinary step of leading on initiatives that should be the responsibility of the executive branch."
• She got $100,000 in campaign contributions last year, ending 2023 with about $300,000 in her war chest, according to filings with the state.

Council member Oliver Thomas: He tells Axios he's made a decision about running. "I'll share it at the appropriate time," he said in August.

• He's increased his public appearances in recent months and wrote what appears to be a campaign platform, which he called "Project2025NOLA," as an alternative to the conservative reform initiative.
• His No. 1 priority is implementing a consistent crime reduction strategy, followed by diversifying the city's economy to reduce its reliance on tourism.
• He told Axios last week he's "flattered" his name continues to come up, but he's focused on his work on the council. "So many want political titles and like to claim or anoint themselves, but the citizens of this great city will determine that in due time," he said.

• He ended 2023 with about $40,000 cash on hand, filings show.

Arthur Hunter: Hunter tells Axios he is "strongly considering" running for mayor.

• "People are fed up with all the talk from politicians," he said in a statement on Sunday. "I have served our city for over 30 years in various capacities and understand we need actions, not just words, to make New Orleans better."
• He's a lawyer, former judge with the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and former NOPD officer. He lost the Orleans Parish district attorney's race in 2020 to Jason Williams.
• Hunter's been sharing his ideas in columns for The Lens. They include streamlining service payments from residents, fighting climate change and reducing juvenile crime.
• He ended 2023 with less than $1,000 in his campaign war chest, filings show.

State Sen. Royce Duplessis: He ended last year with about $25,000 cash on hand for campaigning.

• He didn't respond to a request for comment.

The intrigue: New Orleans has been a Democratic-run city for decades. While Republicans have run for mayor recently, they haven't been successful.

• The Orleans Parish Republican Party was not available for comment before deadline about whether they will be fielding a candidate.
• The other candidates above, with the exception of Twiggs, are Democrats.

The bottom line: It's still early, and more candidates will likely throw their hat in the ring.

• Qualifying starts in July 2025. The primary is in October 2025 followed by the general election in November.