The latest in New Orleans' mayoral race

The big picture: The mayor's race continues to be where the action is happening.

• Helena Moreno remains the front-runner in a recent WWL poll, while Oliver Thomas and Royce Duplessis try to chip away at her lead and at each other's base.

Here's what's been happening lately in the races.

🤳🏾 Duplessis and social media personality Byron Cole had a tense moment at church over the weekend. Cole heckled Duplessis during the service before Duplessis asked him to step outside. Watch the video.

• Duplessis and his wife later responded with another video.
• Former mayor Ray Nagin also talked about the mayoral race last month. Duplessis was in the audience. (Replay)

👀 Thomas is testing sharper attack ads, accusing a Moreno-linked PAC of "race-baiting" in new Facebook ads. (Video)

• Duplessis took some jabs at her too. (Video)

What we're watching: The Oct. 11 election is a jungle primary. If a candidate gets 50% of the vote, they win outright, like Jeff Landry did in 2023 in the governor's race.

• Will Moreno be able to get the votes to win in the primary? Or will she head into a runoff with Thomas or Duplessis?

What's next: The candidates file campaign finance reports next week.