that city government should continue with more of the same next year.

The same ǰٲ.

The same , at least in part. 

The same citywide brand-name politicians.

Why? Because they're tired of the same, aggravating quality-of-life and city services issues and they see a path forward that they like.

Some label it a call for change. I call it more of the same fight for significant change.

Two of the biggest names with the widest brand recognition, and popularity, are City Council Vice President Helena Moreno and City Council President JP Morrell. Voters decided they want Morrell and Moreno to continue fighting for them. By overwhelming margins, voters said "yes" when they reelected Morrell to a second at-large term (alongside council newcomer state Rep. Matthew Willard), and said "yes" to moving Moreno from the legislative branch to the executive branch as mayor.

Voters decided that a third big name with citywide brand recognition — City Council District E member Oliver Thomas — will not be a part of the elected team. Moreno won the mayoralty with 55% of the 40% of voters who turned out to vote, leaving behind state Sen. Royce Duplessis with 22% and Thomas with 19%. Moreno did better than recent polls suggesting she had near 50% support. Duplessis and Thomas were in the same teens to low 20s as polled at different times.

My preliminary look at election results shows that Moreno had overwhelming White support across the city and that she split the Black vote with Duplessis and Thomas. During early voting, when more than 38,000 people voted, 57% of those voters were Black. Moreno got about 56% of the early vote. On election day, in some neighborhoods, she won predominantly Black areas. In others, she ran second or about even.

At this point, even with a hard-fought campaign, that looks like consensus.

City Council districts can be an indicator of whether voters are feeling engaged. Council districts A and D had the highest voter turnout, each in the low 40% range. Council districts B and C were behind them. Thomas won council District E, but, unfortunately for him, E had a turnout in the 30s. 

In the vote to fill Thomas' seat, former council member Cyndi Nguyen got 46% of the vote and state Rep. Jason Hughes got 36%, forcing a Nov. 15 runoff between the two. Clearly the heavily Black district has some love for Nguyen, who had little money and a limited campaign structure. Hughes benefitted from his active community engagement and a stronger campaign. Now people will choose between a couple of good options.

District A traditionally has high voter turnout, but it was higher than normal. Holly Friedman and Aimee McCarron bested other candidates to earn runoff spots. Friedman was district council member Joe Giarrusso's constituent services director. McCarron was his policy and budget director. With a runoff, they can lose the Giarrusso name as central to their respective campaigns and talk about their own accomplishments and their vision.

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New Orleans City Council members, from left to right, Joseph Giarrusso III, Helena Moreno, Jean Paul "JP" Morrell, and Eugene Greene talk outside the Federal Courthouse in New Orleans following the decision by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to place NOPD under a 2-year "sustainment" period starting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 after 12 years under a consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department that she said has transformed the city's long-troubled police force. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune)

City Council members Freddie King III and Eugene Green overwhelmingly beat their competitors, earning reelection to their district C and D seats, respectively. City Council District B member Lesli Harris won reelection without a challenger, the first time that's happened since now-U.S. Rep. Troy Carter did it in 1998.

With Morrell getting more than 65,000 votes — the highest citywide vote total, even higher than Moreno's nearly 58,000 votes — City Council critics find themselves out of sync with what voters like. Voters want the City Council majority they have. Morrell, King and Green each had exposure, but no challenger who turned their weakness into a winning campaign formula. 

Meanwhile, voters chose former New Orleans Police Department interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork to replace Sheriff Susan Hutson. Whether the May 16 jail escapade was an escape or an inside job, that and too many other incidents were far too much to overcome. Voters wanted fresh leadership, trusting that Woodfork can do better with the same budget and resources.

There's so much more, especially with the 46%-47% split between incumbent Clerk Darren Lombard and challenger Calvin Duncan. Lombard was coasting to reelection — until Duncan turned up the heat. Lombard swung and missed with his claim that Duncan, who served 28 years at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola before a judge vacated his murder conviction, had not been exonerated. This runoff could be a hot mess.  

There will be more analysis, commentary, dissecting and second-guessing in the coming days. Breathe today, and prepare for the November runoffs.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate.com.

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Will Sutton: As New Orleans chooses a new mayor, race and endorsements matter

Will Sutton: As New Orleans chooses a new mayor, race and endorsements matter

Columnist Will Sutton looks at race, and endorsements, in the New Orleans mayoral campaign.

"In the race for New Orleans mayor, most serious New Orleans voters are listening to , City Council Vice President  and City Council District E member  to replace Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

Each is qualified.

One is White. Two are Black.

And, yes, race matters. So do endorsements."

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