Campaign finance reports for the upcoming November 13th New Orleans elections are in and they show 3.2 million dollars has been raised across all contests. It’s a fairly light haul given the over 60 candidates running for office this year.
Nola.com reports 2017 mayoral contenders Latoya Cantrell and Desiree Charbonnet raised that much money just themselves.
There are a few reasons why donors haven’t flashed the cash. First up, the mayor’s race just isn’t competitive this year. Mayor Cantrell has brought in three-quarters of a million dollars since the start of the year. Her closest competitor, No Party candidate Leilani Heno, has raised $42,000. Republican Vina Nguyen has taken in $39,000. None of the other 11 candidates in the running, including perpetual candidate “Noonie Man” Batiste, have raised over $5,000.
It should be noted that Batiste, a Democrat, has pulled in $472 so far, but currently has no cash on hand.
The most competitive race on the ballot this year is shaping up to be the contest for the District 2 At-Large New Orleans City Council Seat. Former State Senator JP Morrell has a fundraising edge in that race with $405,000 raised, followed closely by current City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer who has secured $387,000. The other contender in that race, City Councilman Jared Brossett, has only brought in $25,700.
The District E, B, and D races show some potential for fireworks however.
In B, which holds Central City, the Garden District, and parts of Mid-City and Uptown, incumbent Jay Banks has raised $55,000 while challenger Lesli Harris is nearing six figures. Another challenger, Rella Zapatel, has raised $24,000 but is also self-funding to the tune of $200,000.
In D, which runs from the lakefront down to the edge of the Marigny, three candidates, Mariah Moore, Tim Sams, and Mark Lawes, have raised $55,000, $40,000, and $23,000 respectively. That seat used to be held by Brossett.
Incumbent District E Councilwoman Cyndi Nguyen is lagging far behind challenger Oliver Thomas, a former Councilman who resigned in 2007 and plead guilty to taking bribes related to a parking contract. The New Orleans and 9th Ward based district sees Thomas bringing in $193,000 to Nguyen’s $59,000.
Outside of municipal elections local voters will also have contests involving the Clerk of Criminal District Court, and the Assessor, along with some statewide ballot options.