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What’s Next for the New Orleans City Council? Key Races, Departing Members & Candidates

 

What’s Next for the New Orleans City Council?

Big changes are coming to the New Orleans City Council, and several seats are opening up in the upcoming election. Here’s a look at the important races and what they mean for the future of the city.

At-Large Seat

Helena Moreno, the current Council Vice President, will not run for re-election to the city council. Instead, she is running for mayor of New Orleans in 2025.

Moreno has been a key figure on the Council, known for fighting for affordable healthcare, fair wages for workers, and stronger climate action. She also worked on criminal justice reforms, including limiting certain police practices like no-knock warrants (which allow police to enter homes without warning) and promoting better police accountability.

As Moreno’s at-large seat opens, several candidates are stepping up to run for it. An at-large seat means the person elected represents the entire city, not just one district. Some of the candidates looking to fill this seat include State Rep. Matthew Willard and State Rep. Delisha Boyd.

Political expert Ed Chervenak, a professor at the University of New Orleans, says one of the at-large seats is usually held by a white councilmember, while the other is typically held by a Black councilmember. He explains, “It is the unwritten rule of city politics that one seat does go to a white candidate and the other goes to a Black candidate.” Currently, the other at-large seat is held by J.P. Morrell, who is Black. People are watching closely to see if this tradition continues in 2025.

District A Seat

Joe Giarrusso III, a councilmember for District A, will also be stepping down when his term ends in January 2026 because he is term limited. This means that he cannot run for the same seat again after serving a certain number of terms, as required by law.

Giarrusso has decided not to run for the open at-large seat, and instead, he will join a law firm. District A includes areas like Uptown and parts of the Garden District.

District E Seat 

Oliver Thomas, who currently represents District E (including New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward), is running for mayor in 2025. Because of this, his seat on the City Council will be up for grabs.

This has sparked interest from several potential candidates, including Cyndi Nguyen, a former councilmember for District E, and Jon D. Johnson, a former state senator and councilmember. District E has many neighborhoods that are still recovering from past challenges, and these candidates are hoping to bring more investment and improvements to the area.

District E’s seat is especially important because it represents communities that have historically been underrepresented in New Orleans politics. The race for this seat will be one to watch in 2025.

What’s Next for the City Council?

The City Council plays a major role in running New Orleans. Councilmembers help make important decisions, like confirming the mayor’s appointments to various city agencies and controlling funding for city programs. Recently, the City Council has been more active in asserting its authority, sometimes disagreeing with the mayor’s decisions to ensure the city’s needs are met.

The next municipal elections, including the City Council races, are set for October 11, 2025.Municipal elections are local elections held to choose officials and decide on issues that directly affect a city or town. In New Orleans, these elections typically include the Mayor, City Council, and other local officials. 

Stay tuned and visit often, this blog breaks down New Orleans politics in a way that's simple and engaging, no matter your level of interest or experience with politics!

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