Mar 18, 2025 - Politics

What's new with New Orleans' mayoral race

Five people have cast their hats in the ring to be the next mayor of New Orleans, and a sixth is expected to announce soon.

Why it matters: The race to lead New Orleans is heating up.

The big picture: Mayor LaToya Cantrell is term-limited and leaves office in January 2026.

Her second term has been plagued with scandal and political infighting. She's also under a federal investigation.
Her troubles have been a common thread for the candidates, with their platforms focusing on public safety, infrastructure and transparency.

The latest: Here's what's happened with the race in the past few weeks.

New candidates

Arthur Hunter is a former judge in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and former NOPD officer. (Platform)
Tyrell Morris, the city's former 911 chief, is running. He resigned in 2023 amid scandal and tells WDSU he's innocent of the criminal charges he's facing. (Platform)
Renada Collins, an entrepreneur and business coach, is running on a no-party ticket. The New Orleans native is new to politics. (Platform)

Helena Moreno, a councilmember, is in the lead with fundraising, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state.

She raised about $800,000 in 2024 and ended the year with nearly $1 million in the bank, her annual report says.
Councilmember Oliver Thomas, who is considering running, raised about $200,000 last year, his report says.
The other candidates either didn't fundraise last year or reported less than $100.

What we're watching: Thomas is expected to announce his decision soon, sources tell Axios.

More candidates will likely enter the race too.
Qualifying starts in July. The primary is in October, followed by the general election in November.