Voters’ guide to New Orleans City Council at-large election
By Chelsea Brasted
Source: Axios
September 28, 2025
New Orleans will vote on two City Council at-large seats this fall.
Why it matters: All New Orleans voters can make choices for these seats, which fill, on alternating years, the roles of City Council president and vice president.
State of play: Those who hold the at-large positions are expected to balance neighborhood needs with those of the entire city and could serve as interim mayor when needed.
- The roles are also seen as stepping stones into higher offices, in part because they come with citywide name recognition.
- The positions are currently held by Helena Moreno and JP Morrell, who have proven staunch allies of each other and critics of Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
Who’s running: With Moreno running for mayor, her seat is wide open.
- State Reps. Delisha Boyd and Matthew Willard are among the challengers for the Division 1 at-large position. Matthew Hill, the lone Republican running for an at-large seat, is also running for it.
- Morrell, who is running for reelection, faces competition from the Rev. Gregory Manning of Broadmoor Community Church and Kenneth Cutno.
The intrigue: That slate of candidates means New Orleans is poised to have, for the first time ever, both at-large seats filled by Black councilmembers. Go deeper.
Be smart: Here are some resources that may help guide your vote.
- Verite’s voter guide with candidate questionnaires.
- Bureau of Governmental Research’s candidate Q&As for Division 1 and Division 2.
- Watch Urban League debates for Division 1 and Division 2.
What’s next: Early voting runs Sept. 27 through Oct. 4.
The primary is Oct. 11, and runoffs are Nov. 15.
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