Who's running for New Orleans mayor in 2025
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
New Orleans will have a new mayor next year, and we continue to get a better idea of who that may be as candidates announce their plans.
Why it matters: Mayor LaToya Cantrell is term-limited and leaves office in January 2026.
The big picture: Here's a snapshot of who's running and who isn't.
Running
- Renada Collins, an entrepreneur and business coach, is running on a no-party ticket. The New Orleans native is new to politics. Read her platform.
- State Sen. Royce Duplessis threw his hat in the ring in June, reversing course from his January decision when he bowed out, citing fundraising concerns.
- Arthur Hunter formally entered the race in February. He's a lawyer, former judge in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and former NOPD officer.
- Helena Moreno, a current councilmember, said she wants to be mayor because the city needs a new direction. She kicked off her campaign in December 2024. Go deeper.
- Tyrell Morris, the city's former 911 chief, announced his bid in March. He resigned in 2023 amid scandal and tells WDSU he's innocent of the criminal charges he's facing. Read his platform.
- Frank Scurlock, a businessman who made a bid for mayor in 2017, says he is running again. New slogan: "No nonsense. Just business." 2017 slogan: "Make New Orleans fun again."
- Oliver Thomas, a longtime councilmember, says he has the institutional knowledge to fix the city. He launched his campaign in March. Go deeper.
- Ricky Twiggs, a licensed counselor, is running as an independent. He started campaigning last summer. Go deeper.
Not running
- Belden "Noonie Man" Batiste, the man behind the efforts to recall Cantrell, planned to run but now he tells Axios he's running for a council seat.
The intrigue: New Orleans has been a Democratic-run city for decades. While Republicans have run for mayor recently, they haven't been successful.
- Adrian L. Bruneau, the chairman of the Orleans Parish Republican Executive Committee, in a statement last fall said Democrats have destroyed the city's growth, but didn't say if his party will field any candidates.
- The other candidates above, with the exception of Twiggs and Collins, are Democrats.
The bottom line: Mayoral hopefuls will turn in their paperwork and fees July 9-11 during qualifying. After that, we'll know who's on the ballot.
- The primary is in October, followed by the general election in November.
Editor's note: This story was updated June 30 with the latest candidates.
Go deeper: Mayoral hopefuls face off at town hall