Volunteers engage with the community during the New Orleans mayoral campaign season, symbolizing the excitement for upcoming elections.
City Council Vice President Helena Moreno is the frontrunner in the New Orleans mayoral race, raising nearly $900,000 in 2024 alone. With a total of over $1.5 million since her campaign’s start, Moreno has garnered significant support, and with more than 750 volunteers, her candidacy is gaining momentum. Other candidates, including Oliver Thomas and Arthur Hunter, are also making strides but remain behind Moreno in fundraising. As the election season heats up, anticipation builds for the upcoming primaries and the potential for new leadership in the city.
In the bustling streets of New Orleans, the excitement for the upcoming mayoral race is heating up. This year, City Council Vice President Helena Moreno is stealing the spotlight as the top fundraising candidate, raking in nearly $900,000 in 2024 alone. This impressive feat brings her total campaign fund to over $1.5 million since kicking off her bid in December. As the local election season gears up, it’s no surprise that the race is expected to draw millions of dollars in spending before the primary on October 11.
The latest finance reports are in, and they’re painting a clear picture of the early fundraising efforts from each candidate vying for the positions of mayor, council, sheriff, and more. These reports, due this past Monday, give voters a look at where the money is coming from and how it will be spent. With official qualifying for the elections set to kick off in July, things are starting to feel real for many candidates.
Moreno’s campaign manager recently highlighted the incredible enthusiasm behind her candidacy, noting that over 750 volunteers have signed up to help drive her campaign forward. This spike in participation is seen as a clear signal that many residents in New Orleans are ready for a change in leadership.
While Moreno is leading the charge, other candidates are doing their part to secure their place in the upcoming election. District E Councilmember Oliver Thomas threw his hat into the ring back in March. So far this year, he has secured nearly $90,000, putting him in a solid financial position with about $225,000 left in the bank. Thomas is feeling optimistic about the energy his campaign is building, suggesting he’s gaining traction amongst voters.
Not to be overlooked, former judge Arthur Hunter joined the race in February and is making a strong showing with approximately $110,000 raised so far this year. Meanwhile, Tyrell Morris, who entered the race a bit later in the game at the end of March, has brought in just over $1,000, mostly from supportive friends and family.
Turning the spotlight towards the city council, State Representative Delisha Boyd has made a big splash for a citywide council seat, raising $156,000 in the first quarter of 2024. On the other hand, Matthew Willard recently declared his candidacy for Moreno’s council seat but hasn’t yet gathered funds for his campaign.
When it comes to the race for sheriff, Michelle Woodfork is leading the pack with $79,000 raised this year. Runners-up Susan Hutson and Edwin Shorty are following with about $49,000 and $44,500 raised, which is a bit of a distance from the leading candidate.
Moreno began the year with a hefty advantage over many of her competitors, primarily because several candidates had yet to announce their run. As of now, Moreno has spent around $320,000 of her contributions. Thomas has reported $83,000 in contributions with approximately $62,000 spent, leaving him with a warchest of $225,000.
Arthur Hunter is keeping his expenses limited, with less than $200 spent against his $89,000 in contributions, while Morris, despite raising around $1,200, has spent about $200 on his campaign efforts. Meanwhile, Ricky Twiggs has jumped in with only $155 raised and about $400 remaining after a modest $50 in spending.
As the race for New Orleans mayor heats up, it’s clear that momentum is building. Mayor LaToya Cantrell is term-limited and will exit the office in January 2026, paving the way for new leadership. With qualifying starting in July, and both a primary election and general election scheduled for October and November, the stakes have never been higher. Voters are keenly watching as candidates shake up their campaigns and prepare for an action-packed election season.
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