hasn't had a Black statewide elected official since Reconstruction. After the poor showing of Black Democrat Shawn Wilson against White Republican Jeff Landry and a field of other gubernatorial candidates in 2023, it doesn't seem likely we'll have another one anytime soon.
Black Democrat Davante Lewis represents District 3 on the , a powerful, five-member body that regulates most utility companies and the rates they charge customers. That makes him the highest-ranking Black elected state official.
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter is the highest ranking Black elected federal official. State Sen. Cleo Fields becomes U.S. Rep. Fields, a federal position, in January. Blacks also hold several mayoral and parish president positions.
At the same time, one could argue that Black leadership is declining in h.
Just this month, two-term Democratic East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome lost a runoff to first-time GOP candidate and football coach Sid Edwards. It's been called a "stunning" upset.
Broome was seen as an early favorite. She was the incumbent, a Democrat in a predominantly Democratic city, Black in a predominantly Black city and an She had the support of the former Democratic governor. Black Democratic challenger Ted James endorsed her after running third in the Nov. 5 primary.
It wasn't enough.
My take: What Broome needed most was a strong Black voter turnout, which didn't happen.
Council Member Oliver Thomas.
What mattered to those who voted was believing Edwards had their best interests at heart.
The same was true in 2022 when between White Republican attorney Tom Arceneaux and Black Democrat state Sen. Greg Tarver. Shreveport has a narrow Black majority and had not elected since 1994. Tarver had the support of then-Gov. John Bel Edwards. Arceneaux won the support of two former Black mayors and the incumbent Black mayor. He won convincingly, with 56% of the vote.
, incumbent Black Democrat Jamie Mayo was challenged in 2020 by White businessman Friday Ellis, an Independent with strong Republican ties. Ellis beat Mayo with 52% of the vote. In March, Ellis increased his support over challenger Mayo, winning nearly 64% of the vote.
State Sen. Royce Duplessis
Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Monroe are majority-Black cities with White male mayors.
New Orleans also is a majority-Black city. For now, it has a Black female mayor. In October and November, New Orleans voters will elect a new mayor.
City Council President Helena Moreno, a Democratic Hispanic woman, has a track record of representing Black concerns. At a Wednesday night campaign event, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, First City Court Clerk Donna Glapion and State Rep. Jason Hughes — all Black Democrats — were in attendance. Glapion co-chairs Moreno's campaign.
City Council member Oliver Thomas and state Rep. Royce Duplessis, both Black Democrats, continue to weigh entering the race. Former Criminal Court Judge Arthur Hunter has talked about making a run. Others have toyed with the idea.
"Everyone has to make their own decision," Thomas told me. "I'll make a decision, but I want it to be a community decision."
Hunter said his biggest challenge is fundraising. All would need strong support from Blacks and White progressives.
Moreno, the first to declare a mayoral candidacy, touts her record. "From the time I was chosen by the people to represent one of New Orleans' most historic, Black-majority legislative districts to now representing our majority-Black city at large, I've always been proud to have delivered real results for the people I serve," she told me.
is an oft-forgotten Louisian politician. In 1868, when he was elected mayor of Donaldsonville, he became h's — and America's — first Black mayor. Carl Stokes was the first Black mayor of a "major" U.S. city when he was elected Cleveland's mayor in 1968, 100 years after Landry became mayor of his Ascension Parish town. We've come a long way since then.
As New Orleans' Black mayoral candidate pool takes shape, Moreno remains the only candidate with a significant Black base of support.
Front-runners don't always win. And even the best candidates need money — $1 million or more — to wage a serious campaign. An unknown candidate can make a late entry and run an effective campaign before the fall election.
Black representation matters, and so does delivering results. Duplessis, Hunter, Thomas and other Black potential candidates for mayor must ponder their chances of becoming the candidate of choice for most New Orleans voters — Black, Hispanic, Asian, White and others.
