Frank Scurlock

This candidate participated in a 2025 battleground election. Click here to read more about that election.

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Frank Scurlock

Unaffiliated

Elections and appointments

Last election

October 11, 2025

Personal

Profession

Entrepreneur

Contact

Campaign website

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Frank Scurlock (unaffiliated) ran for election for Mayor of New Orleans in Louisiana. He lost in the primary on October 11, 2025.

Biography

Scurlock founded Scurlock Entertainment Global, Positive Sky, and Air World Enterprises. He was the owner of Space Walk Inc., a company specializing in bounce houses and safety air cushions, prior to his retirement.

2025 battleground election

See also: Mayoral election in New Orleans, Louisiana (2025)

Ballotpedia identified the October 11, 2025, nonpartisan primary as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.

Helena Moreno (D) defeated 10 other candidates in the nonpartisan primary for mayor of New Orleans on Oct. 11, 2025. Moreno, Royce Duplessis (D), and Oliver Thomas (D) led in media attention. Incumbent Mayor LaToya Cantrell (D), who was first elected in 2017, was term-limited.

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to win the election outright. If no candidate received a majority of votes, the top two vote recipients from the primary would have advanced to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation. The general election would have taken place on Nov. 15, 2025, but was canceled.

Heading into the election, NOLA.com’s Sophie Kasakove and James Finn wrote that since New Orleans is a predominantly Democratic city in a state with a Republican trifecta, the three leading candidates "are trying to convince voters they’re best positioned to defend the city's autonomy and traditions, while still working to show they can reach across the aisle to advance the city’s agenda in one of the country’s most conservative states and at a time when federal threats to autonomy and funding loom."

Duplessis was first elected to represent District 5 in the Louisiana Senate in a 2022 special election. He previously represented District 93 in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022.

Heading into the election, Duplessis said, "I have a bold vision for where New Orleans needs to go and what it will take to get us there. [...] As a parent, I want my seven-year-old daughter to inherit a city that is safe, prosperous, and equitable. For too long, we have settled for a community that survives from crisis to crisis. Our children deserve a city that thrives."

Moreno was first elected to represent an at-large seat on the New Orleans City Council in 2017. She served as the Council’s president from 2019 to 2023, and then she became its vice president. Moreno previously represented District 93 in the state House from 2010 to 2018.

Heading into the election, Moreno said, "Too many people are leaving New Orleans because our city doesn't work for them. But I'm ready to bring them home and keep you here. Enough of the same old ways. We do not have to settle for this. It's time for change. I have the experience and vision to make sure we have a city that works for everyone."

Thomas was first elected to represent District E on the New Orleans City Council in 2021. He previously represented District B on the Council from 1994 to 2002 and an at-large seat from 2002 to 2007. Thomas resigned from the Council in 2007 and served 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal bribery charge.

Heading into the election, Thomas said, "As a father, former businessman, and lifelong community advocate, I bring a unique combination of lived experience and leadership. I understand how city government should work because I’ve seen it. I know what it means to serve the people, not just in title, but in action, and I’m ready to lead a New Orleans that works for everyone, with no one left behind."

Frank Janusa (R), Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated), Manny Chevrolet Bruno (Unaffiliated), Russell Butler (Unaffiliated), Eileen Carter (Unaffiliated), Renada Collins (Unaffiliated), Frank Scurlock (Unaffiliated), and Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated) are also running in the election.

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated) and Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

Candidates and results

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of New Orleans

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of New Orleans on October 11, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Helena Moreno (D)	54.9	57,797
		Royce Duplessis (D)	22.3	23,474
		Oliver Thomas (D)	18.6	19,619
		Frank Janusa (R)	2.2	2,315
		Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)	0.8	806
	Submit photo	Arthur Hunter (D) (Unofficially withdrew)	0.3	357
	Submit photo	Eileen Carter (Unaffiliated)	0.2	247
		Manny Chevrolet Bruno (Unaffiliated)	0.2	206
		Renada Collins (Unaffiliated)	0.2	190
	Submit photo	Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)	0.1	135
		Frank Scurlock (Unaffiliated)	0.1	99
		Russell Butler (Unaffiliated)	0.1	81

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	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 105,326
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Gabrielle Harris Thomas (R)
• Tyrell Morris (D)

Voting information

See also: Voting in Louisiana

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Joseph Bikulege

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Party: Unaffiliated

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "For 26 years, I have called New Orleans home. Jazz Gala Steering Committee I spent the last four years serving on the steering committee for the Jazz Museum's annual Gala at the Mint. Animal Rescue Support Committed to animal welfare, I actively support rescue efforts and recently welcomed a new rescue pet. Public Safety Leadership I've worked with COPS2 for 18 years, including ten on the board and six as president, supporting NOPD and community safety. Outdoor Activities & Local Sports I'm passionate about fishing and support local teams—Saints and Pelicans—while anticipating new additions to our sports scene. Arts Engagement As a watercolor enthusiast, I am working to create an annual International Watercolor Festival in New Orleans to promote art appreciation and opportunities for artists. Local Business Ownership Residing in uptown, I own Le Bon Temps Roule, a fixture in New Orleans’ food, music, and entertainment for 46 years. Professional Experience Court-Appointed Receivership As a court-appointed receiver, I manage distressed businesses, coordinating with state and city agencies to resolve complex matters. Work Experience • Six years in electrical distribution (utility, construction, commercial power). • Ten years in industrial water treatment. • Six years in environmental services (wastewater, land remediation, heavy industry cleanup). • Twenty-five years in service industry management, consulting, and receivership."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Restore the city's basic responsibilities to its citizens: addressing crime and safety, maintaining infrastructure, ensuring reliable utilities, and providing a solid foundation with support for education. Encourage the growth of existing businesses and attract new commerce to create a stronger tax base, better jobs, and higher wages for the community.

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Revise and oversee a balanced, fiscally responsible city budget.

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Develop a city agenda focused on serving, protecting, and meeting the needs of New Orleans' citizens, rather than prioritizing a political party or personal career goals.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New Orleans in 2025.

Royce Duplessis

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• Louisiana Senate, District 5 (Assumed office: 2022)
• Louisiana House of Representatives, District 93 (2018-2022)

Biography:  Duplessis received a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2004 and a J.D. from Howard University in 2010. His professional experience includes working as an attorney at Duplessis Law Firm, LLC.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Duplessis said he would “implement smarter police deployment by utilizing civilian staff for non-emergencies, allowing officers to concentrate on crime prevention.”

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On housing, Duplessis said he would “leverage the Housing Trust Fund and other funding sources to create 40,000 new affordable housing units [...] this means building more units and bringing vacant units back into commerce.”

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Duplessis said he would “establish a local small business revolving loan or grant program” and “create a property tax incentive for commercial buildings that house entrepreneurs.”

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Show sources

Sources: Royce Duplessis campaign website, "Our Opportunity Agenda," accessed September 25, 2025; LinkedIn, "Royce Duplessis," accessed September 25, 2025

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New Orleans in 2025.

Helena Moreno

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• New Orleans City Council, At-Large (Assumed office: 2018)
• Louisiana House of Representatives, District 93 (2010-2018)

Biography:  Moreno received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in 1999. Her professional experience includes working as an investigative reporter for WDSU-TV.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Moreno said she would “bring in auditors to double-check city departments to ensure proper spending, personnel costs, effectiveness, and results” and “monitor spending regularly so all the numbers match up.”

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On public safety, Moreno said she would “implement a technology system for NOPD that identifies risks in real time to help preserve officer safety and right-size responses.”

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Moreno said she would improve the Safety and Permits and the Code Enforcement departments as part of her “vision of an efficient, customer-focused permitting process.”

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Show sources

Sources: Helena Moreno campaign website, "Making Basic City Services Work," accessed September 25, 2025; Helena Moreno campaign website, "Comprehensive Public Safety Plan," accessed September 25, 2025; Helena Moreno campaign website, "Meet Helena," accessed September 25, 2025

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New Orleans in 2025.

Oliver Thomas

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• New Orleans City Council, District E (Assumed office: 2022)
• New Orleans City Council, At-Large (2002-2007)
• New Orleans City Council, District B (1994–2002)

Biography:  Thomas received a bachelor's degree from the College of Santa Fe in 1982. His professional experience includes working as a marketing executive at the civil engineering firm Stuart Consulting Group Inc.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Thomas said he would “move to elect or publicly confirm the next NOPD Chief to ensure community trust in law enforcement leadership. The Superintendent should be accountable to the people, not just the Mayor.”

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On infrastructure, Thomas said he would “launch a 90-Day Pothole Fix Guarantee Program to ensure all potholes are repaired within 90 days, prioritizing major road issues for safer, smoother streets across New Orleans.”

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Thomas said he would “establish a Mayor’s Office of Ethics and Government Integrity to prevent waste and misuse of city funds.”

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Show sources

Sources: Oliver Thomas campaign website, "Making Our Neighborhoods Safer," accessed September 25, 2025; Oliver Thomas campaign website, "Fixing City Services & Infrasture," accessed September 25, 2025; Oliver Thomas campaign website, "Making City Hall Work for Everyone," accessed September 25, 2025; LinkedIn, "Oliver Thomas Jr.," accessed September 25, 2025

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New Orleans in 2025.

Richard Twiggs Jr.

Party: Unaffiliated

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am Richard "Ricky" Twiggs Jr., an award-winning Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) and a tech entrepreneur with 15 years of business experience, including 7 years as a clinician. I am a native New Orleanian and raised in Algiers (the Westbank of NOLA). As a millenial I have experienced numerous "unprecedented" events and numerous blessings as well. I have been instrumental in bringing 3D printing technology to Louisiana and have dedicated much of my career to expanding access to mental health care. I have helped launch numerous addiction facilities and consulted with outpatient centers in New Orleans to increase care availability. With my background in both business and mental health, I am uniquely positioned to lead New Orleans through the challenges of mental health, education, and economic reform. My campaign is built on four pillars: Mental Health Reform, Crime and Anti-Corruption Reform, Education and Teacher Reform, and Job Creation & Infrastructure Development. I am committed to creating a "new" New Orleans where opportunity, well-being, and growth are accessible to all."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Mental health care in New Orleans is in crisis, and as an award-winning Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), I understand the urgency of addressing this problem at its root. Mental health reform is not just a component of my platform—it is the heart of my campaign.

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For over 150 years, New Orleans has been controlled by the same entrenched political machine. The Democratic Party's grip on the city has resulted in stagnation, inefficiency, and a lack of accountability. It is time for a new era of leadership—one that prioritizes the people over party politics and delivers tangible results for the citizens of New Orleans.

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Education is the foundation of a prosperous society, yet New Orleans' public school system has been systematically neglected. The failures of the charter school experiment and the disempowerment of the elected school board have left our children and teachers struggling. I will rebuild New Orleans' education system from the ground up, focusing on restoring public schools, empowering teachers, and ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New Orleans in 2025.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

Restore the city's basic responsibilities to its citizens: addressing crime and safety, maintaining infrastructure, ensuring reliable utilities, and providing a solid foundation with support for education. Encourage the growth of existing businesses and attract new commerce to create a stronger tax base, better jobs, and higher wages for the community.

Revise and oversee a balanced, fiscally responsible city budget.

Develop a city agenda focused on serving, protecting, and meeting the needs of New Orleans' citizens, rather than prioritizing a political party or personal career goals.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Mental health care in New Orleans is in crisis, and as an award-winning Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), I understand the urgency of addressing this problem at its root. Mental health reform is not just a component of my platform—it is the heart of my campaign.

For over 150 years, New Orleans has been controlled by the same entrenched political machine. The Democratic Party's grip on the city has resulted in stagnation, inefficiency, and a lack of accountability. It is time for a new era of leadership—one that prioritizes the people over party politics and delivers tangible results for the citizens of New Orleans.

Education is the foundation of a prosperous society, yet New Orleans' public school system has been systematically neglected. The failures of the charter school experiment and the disempowerment of the elected school board have left our children and teachers struggling. I will rebuild New Orleans' education system from the ground up, focusing on restoring public schools, empowering teachers, and ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

Local taxation, affordable housing and increased housing availability, crime reduction, infrastructure improvements, reliable utilities, and a strong educational foundation.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

I’m passionate about public policy that directly impacts the lives of New Orleanians. It is vital that my administration restores public perception of city hall. Mental health reform is a priority for me, as I’ve seen firsthand the effects of untreated mental illness. I’m also committed to rebuilding our education system. We will restore neighborhood schools, invest in teachers, and ensure every child has access to quality education. My campaign will be a job creating one bringing in 41,000 jobs in 4 years for infrastructure projects. Finally, I’m focused on crime reduction and anti-corruption reforms, tackling the root causes of crime and restoring accountability to our justice system.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

I admire many people and often notice a wide range of positive character traits in individuals. Since we are all human, no one person can perfectly embody everything we aspire to be. A role model doesn’t need to be famous, political, well-known, or wealthy. Relying entirely on one individual can sometimes lead to disappointment when they show their humanity or reveal flaws. We often place unnecessary pressure or expectations on our role models that they never sought. Interestingly, we can also learn valuable lessons from poor role models or less admirable examples.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, Joan of Arc, and Robert Kennedy.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Man's Search for Meaning- Viktor Frankl

The Fire Next Time- James Baldwin The Rebel- Albert Camus

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee- Dee Brown

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

In today's social media-driven world, a completely open and transparent administration is crucial for building public trust and enabling city governments to serve their citizens effectively. Honesty, fairness, and leading by example are essential qualities for any administrative leader. Equal opportunities should be prioritized to meet the demands of departmental leadership and foster strong inter-regulatory relationships, especially when relying on external funding and grants. Fiscal responsibility and thoughtful delegation to the most capable minds and talents are vital to address the growing challenges and duties of a city. The role is not about the individual holding the position, but about using the position to serve others' needs, focusing less on self-interest and more on the community.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

I believe the most important characteristics are leadership, integrity, compassion and grit. Leadership means having the vision to guide our constituents through challenges and the strength to make tough decisions. Integrity is about being honest, transparent, and accountable to the people I serve. Without integrity, public trust crumbles, and I am committed to leading with honesty in every action I take. Compassion is equally crucial—understanding the struggles of others and ensuring that every decision made is centered on improving the lives of all citizens. Finally, I value grit—the ability to persevere, learn from setbacks, and keep pushing for progress, no matter the obstacles.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Integrity, creativity, compassion, and unrelenting optimism.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

To serve the citizens and not oneself. Please refer to previous responses for a complete perspective on the responsibilities of this office.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

To lead with integrity and not take advantage of the public trust which has been consistently happening in our city.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

A person of honesty and integrity who worked to improve the city from the moment I took responsibility. Strong, reliable, and responsible, I was known for being honest, transparent, fair, and approachable. A decent, caring human being whose traits many might admire and perhaps use as inspiration to become better themselves.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

That strong leadership can inspire and bring about the change we most desire.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

There were many, but the one that instantly stands out from a non-family event has to be the moon landing. I was 8 years old.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

9/11. I was 10 years old. This altered my world in ways I am still uncovering today.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

I used to be a paperboy, delivering newspapers in my community for eight years.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Working at a summer camp in Algiers. I had the job for one summer!

What is your favorite book? Why?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

As a child

The Jungle Book The Emperor's New Clothes Stone Soup I carried these around all the time. As a child, I wasn’t sure why, but looking back, they all seem connected to the human element—how we perceive it, how flawed and easily misled we can be, yet also how honest and open we become when encouraged, when we learn to trust others, or when our curiosity is sparked in specific ways. We often develop unfounded fears when faced with groupthink or peer pressure. By approaching situations with openness and without preconceived notions, we can strive to become better individuals and quite often we are.

I’ve always kept copies of each on hand to this day. It’s also one of my favorite gifts for young nieces and nephews as they learn to read.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

Not overthinking this, Spider-Man has always been my favorite superhero. Sherlock Holmes always intrigued me with his problem-solving techniques and calm demeanor.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Aslan

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan and Euphoria by Kendrick Lamar

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

Many thoughts come to mind, especially trying to understand why so many people seem to have such apathy, even when they appear blessed or seem to be doing quite well.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

The role of mayor is one a primarily management.

To effectively lead the city, the mayor's role must center on management excellence. The first step involves meeting with all department heads and their respective management teams to identify the root causes behind any dysfunction or operational disconnects within city government. It is essential to conduct a thoughtful assessment to determine whether challenges stem from internal issues, departmental leadership, or the broader administration.

Only after understanding the true nature of these problems can solutions be crafted intelligently. This process ensures that the right individuals are in place, occupying leadership roles that drive successful and efficient operations throughout city departments.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

A Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer of the City and as such, must make sure that they put their city first in any & all contracts, negotiations, and policies. The Mayor should have a strong presence throughout all corners of the city.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

One aspect I am considering is the creation of a city manager position, responsible for overseeing administrative policies and aligning them with the needs and priorities of the city council. The mayor should serve as the glue that holds the team and city together through both prosperous and challenging times. The mayor should regularly monitor each department, ensuring policies, administration goals, and citizens' needs are met. Moving the city forward into the future requires the mayor to rely on a cohesive, transparent, honest, and reliable support team. In our city, there seems to be a dysfunctional relationship between the city council and the mayor's administration. They are often at odds, failing to meet the needs of the citizens and falling short in providing basic city services and responsibilities.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Inspiring Hope

If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

The mayor's role should involve listening to city councilmembers who represent districts and understand the needs of their areas. The mayor should then guide the council to create policies that improve the city as a whole while addressing the unique needs and interests of different neighborhoods. Who better to inform the mayor and their administration than the representatives elected by the citizens of their respective districts?

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

The Mayor and City Council should aim for the best outcomes for all citizens. The Mayor and city council should both recommend policies. The Mayor should work to prevent a rogue city council by fostering team work, holding city council accountable, and fostering creativity among city council members to solve issues.

What do you love most about your city?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

It has a rich history and stands as one of the oldest cities in the nation. Over time, it has experienced changes and adapted through various eras and shifts in thinking. Despite its past and cultural diversity, the city has proven that you can preserve your identity while still evolving to embrace the mindset of modern society.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Diversity.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

Shifting away from self-serving and political party agendas to focus on the needs of individuals in a culturally diverse city is crucial. Developing a city agenda that prioritizes the city and its people comes first. It may take time to repair the damage caused by past administrations, which have mismanaged resources and left the city struggling to meet the basic needs of its citizens.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

Citizens leaving the city, inability to retain citizens, and inability to recruit citizens to live here.

Teacher Shortage and continued destruction of education system. Corruption. Crime Rates Increase due to lack of work. Loss of Economic Opportunity due to failure to expand outside of the tourism / hospitality industry. Collapse of Medical and Mental Health Industry. Grid Failure and unimaginably expensive utilities. Sewerage and Waterboard failure.

Homelessness / Unhoused increase.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

Maintain a reliable, transparent relationship so that in times of natural disasters, fiscal adversity, and shortfalls, there is mutual respect and an understanding that the needs of the city and state come first, rather than political interests. It is essential for the governor to acknowledge the individuality of each city and for mayors to openly and honestly present the true needs, challenges, and strengths to the governor's administration. This mutual reliance can help both the city and state work together to achieve common goals.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

New Orleans is the leading city in Louisiana. When New Orleans moves economically the state follows. We must be leaders for our state and set the tempo to better our State. The better New Orleans does the better the State becomes.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

As the federal government continues to delegate more power and responsibilities to individual states, it’s crucial for both to respect and understand each other's policies and needs. Only by doing so can they rely on each other's strengths and work together as a team to build a better nation. Understanding that political views, which vary by region and demographics, don't have to result in standoffs or division.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

A non-corrupt relationship.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

With years of experience working with the police force, it's clear that a tough stance on crime is essential, alongside promoting the department's ability to achieve such goals. Appointing a superintendent who aligns with the administration's policies and direction is crucial, while also ensuring flexibility, delegation, and trust in the superintendent and officers to implement and achieve the desired outcomes.

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

As Mayor, I believe the relationship between the mayor’s office and law enforcement must be based on leadership, integrity, compassion, and reform. My role is to provide law enforcement with a clear vision for public safety, emphasizing crime reduction, fairness, and mental health integration. This includes ensuring they have the resources needed for success, while also setting strong accountability standards to maintain public trust.

Integrity is key to rebuilding that trust. I would establish independent oversight to address misconduct and enhance transparency through regular reporting on police activities. Open communication between law enforcement and the community is essential, as is reforming internal disciplinary processes to ensure fairness.

Compassion is central to my vision. Too often, police are tasked with handling mental health crises without proper resources. I will integrate mental health professionals into law enforcement response teams and expand training to ensure officers approach mental health situations with care and expertise.

Reform is needed to balance support for law enforcement with accountability. Officers deserve the tools to succeed and an environment that is free from internal corruption / politics. They must also be aware that they will face consequences for misconduct. I will promote community policing, diversify the police force, and implement alternatives to policing in non-violent situations like mental health crises and unhoused/homelessness.

Ultimately, the ideal relationship between the mayor’s office and law enforcement is one of partnership, where police are not just enforcers, but community builders. By fostering collaboration, accountability, and compassion, we can create a safer, fairer New Orleans for all.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)

We need more municipal government transparency.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

I was assisting an elderly woman I met at a DIY store when she was trying to buy 18 inches of chain. During our conversation, as I tried to convince a store employee to cut a piece smaller than two feet, I learned more about her. She was very ill and needed to make three weekly visits to a health clinic for procedures, which required driving during heavy traffic. She mentioned how beneficial it would be for handicapped individuals to use HOV lanes, as it would reduce her travel time, help her be on time, and alleviate some of her health-related challenges. She was very open with me, and I make it a point to check in on her. Regardless of election outcomes, I plan to approach the appropriate people to advocate for this consideration.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)

I have many nieces and nephews in my life, some by blood and others who are the children of close friends and cousins. I've always had great relationships with them, and they often call me for help with various tasks or problems. For instance, I've set up countless computers and printers over the years! Recently, they've been asking for my paintings to decorate their apartments or homes. I take pride in being Uncle Joe.

Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Royce Duplessis

"New Day New Leadership"  – Duplessis campaign advertisement, released September 22, 2025

"Royce is the Choice"  – Duplessis campaign advertisement, released September 10, 2025

"Lowering the Cost of Living"  – Duplessis campaign advertisement, released August 25, 2025

View more ads here:

• YouTube
• Facebook

Helena Moreno

"'We can't afford to get it wrong. So I'm proudly endorsing Helena Moreno for Mayor.'"  – Moreno campaign advertisement, released September 24, 2025

"'We can't afford to get it wrong. So I'm proudly endorsing Helena Moreno for Mayor.'"  – Moreno campaign advertisement, released September 23, 2025

"A New Direction Means a Smoother Ride"  – Moreno campaign advertisement, released September 7, 2025

View more ads here:

• YouTube
• Facebook

Oliver Thomas

"Oliver Thomas - More To Do"  – Thomas campaign advertisement, released September 5, 2025

"Housing New Orleans"  – Thomas campaign advertisement, released July 29, 2025

"Oliver Thomas for Mayor"  – Thomas campaign advertisement, released March 18, 2025

View more ads here:

• YouTube
• Facebook

Election competitiveness

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia researchers did not identify any candidate websites that provide endorsement information. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

Election spending

Campaign finance

Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Click here to access those reports.

Election analysis

Mayoral partisanship

New Orleans has a Democratic mayor. As of October 2025, 66 mayors in the largest 100 cities by population are affiliated with the Democratic Party, 23 are affiliated with the Republican Party, one is affiliated with the Libertarian Party, three are independents, five identify as nonpartisan or unaffiliated, and two mayors' affiliations are unknown. Click here for a list of the 100 largest cities' mayors and their partisan affiliations.

Mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan in most of the nation's largest cities. However, many officeholders are affiliated with political parties. Ballotpedia uses one or more of the following sources to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.

About the city

See also: New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a city in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. As of 2020, its population was 383,997.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of New Orleans uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body, while the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for New Orleans, Louisiana
	New Orleans	Louisiana
Population	383,997	4,657,757
Land area (sq mi)	169	43,210
Race and ethnicity**
White	33.4%	61.2%
Black/African American	59.2%	32.2%
Asian	2.9%	1.7%
Native American	0.2%	0.6%
Pacific Islander	0%	0%
Other (single race)	N/A	1.6%
Multiple	2.6%	2.7%
Hispanic/Latino	5.5%	5.2%
Education
High school graduation rate	87.7%	85.9%
College graduation rate	38%	24.9%
Income
Median household income	$43,258	$50,800
Persons below poverty level	23%	18.6%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Election context

Mayor of New Orleans election history

2021

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of New Orleans

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of New Orleans on November 13, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		LaToya Cantrell (D)	64.7	48,750
		Vina Nguyen (R)	13.5	10,133
		Leilani Heno (No party preference)	8.8	6,605
		Belden Batiste (D)	5.1	3,863
		Joseph Amato (Independent)	1.7	1,256
		Eldon Anderson (D)	1.3	987
	Submit photo	Byron Cole (No party preference)	1.2	919
		Luke Fontana (D)	1.0	720
		Manny Chevrolet Bruno (No party preference)	0.8	578
		Johnese Smith (D)	0.7	553
		Matthew Hill (Independent)	0.7	535
		Nathaniel Jones (Independent)	0.3	231
		Douglas Bentley I (Independent)	0.2	163
	Submit photo	Reginald Merchant (No party preference)	0.0	32

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 75,325
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2025 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This is a battleground election. Other 2025 battleground elections include:

• Chelsea Alkire
• Mayoral election in New York, New York, 2025 (June 24 Democratic primary)
• Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, 2025 (October 7 Republican primary)

See also

New Orleans, Louisiana	Louisiana	Municipal government	Other local coverage
2021 New Orleans mayoral election New Orleans, Louisiana Cities in Louisiana	2025 Louisiana elections Public policy in Louisiana Endorsers in Louisiana Louisiana	Top counties 100 largest cities Current mayors Current council officials	2025 municipal elections 2025 school board elections 2025 local ballot measure elections 2025 local judicial elections

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• City of New Orleans

Elections

2025

See also: Mayoral election in New Orleans, Louisiana (2025)

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of New Orleans

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of New Orleans on October 11, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Helena Moreno (D)	54.9	57,797
		Royce Duplessis (D)	22.3	23,474
		Oliver Thomas (D)	18.6	19,619
		Frank Janusa (R)	2.2	2,315
		Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated)	0.8	806
	Submit photo	Arthur Hunter (D) (Unofficially withdrew)	0.3	357
	Submit photo	Eileen Carter (Unaffiliated)	0.2	247
		Manny Chevrolet Bruno (Unaffiliated)	0.2	206
		Renada Collins (Unaffiliated)	0.2	190
	Submit photo	Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated)	0.1	135
		Frank Scurlock (Unaffiliated)	0.1	99
		Russell Butler (Unaffiliated)	0.1	81

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 105,326
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Gabrielle Harris Thomas (R)
• Tyrell Morris (D)

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

Election campaign finance

Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Click here to access those reports.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2023

See also: Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2023

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Governor of Louisiana

The following candidates ran in the primary for Governor of Louisiana on October 14, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jeff Landry (R)	51.6	547,827
		Shawn Wilson (D)	25.9	275,525
		Stephen Waguespack (R)	5.9	62,287
		John Schroder (R)	5.3	56,654
		Hunter Lundy (Independent)	4.9	52,165
	Submit photo	Daniel Cole (D)	2.6	27,662
		Sharon Hewitt (R)	1.7	18,468
		Benjamin Barnes (Independent)	0.5	5,190
	Submit photo	Patrick Henry Barthel (R)	0.4	4,426
		Richard Nelson (R) (Unofficially withdrew)	0.3	3,605
	Submit photo	Jeffery Istre (Independent)	0.3	3,400
		Xavier Ellis (R)	0.2	1,734
	Submit photo	Keitron Gagnon (Independent)	0.1	1,260
		Xan John (R)	0.1	1,164
		Frank Scurlock (Independent)	0.1	1,131

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,062,498
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Oscar Dantzler (D)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Scurlock in this election.

2017

See also: Municipal elections in New Orleans, Louisiana (2017)

The following candidates ran in the primary election for mayor of New Orleans.

Mayor of New Orleans, Primary Election, 2017
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	LaToya Cantrell	39.00%	32,025
	Democratic	Desiree Charbonnet	30.48%	25,028
	Democratic	Michael Bagneris	18.76%	15,405
	Democratic	Troy Henry	6.42%	5,270
	Democratic	Tommie Vassel	1.36%	1,120
	Independent	Hashim Walters	0.56%	462
	Democratic	Thomas Albert	0.56%	456
	Independent	Edward Bruski	0.55%	450
	Democratic	Frank Scurlock	0.47%	385
	No Party	Manny Chevrolet Bruno	0.32%	264
	No Party	Derrick O'Brien Martin	0.29%	238
	Independent	Patrick Van Hoorebeek	0.28%	232
	Democratic	Charles Anderson	0.28%	230
	No Party	Byron Cole	0.26%	212
	No Party	Matthew Hill	0.13%	108
	Democratic	Edward Collins Sr.	0.12%	96
	Democratic	Brandon Dorrington	0.11%	92
	Democratic	Johnese Smith	0.05%	38
Total Votes				82,111
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, "Saturday, October 14, 2017," accessed October 14, 2017

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Frank Scurlock did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

2023

Frank Scurlock did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2017

Scurlock's campaign website included the following themes:

“	New Orleans is known throughout the world as a city that embraces fun and enjoyment. Sadly that “joie de vivre” isn’t shared by the majority of families that live and work here. It’s hard to embrace the “fun” associates with our city when you struggle to find a place to live, struggle to find a safe place for your family, struggle to find a job that pays you a liveable wage or struggle to get to work on our broken infrastructure. To make New Orleans the city that it ought to be — after all we have all the things cities need to be great (sunny weather, a great location, abundant natural resources, an active port and airport and a progressive population that exceeds 384,000 — we must get to the root of the many challenges holding our city and its citizens back: poverty and a history of focusing on consolidated political power instead of making things happen for the folks that need it. Our platform focuses on four primary goals: Affordable Housing that is for our residents; Crime Prevention for our families, neighborhoods and visitors; Employment for our residents that allows them to earn a liveable wage in a sustainable job that expands our workforce and diversifies our economy; Streets and infrastructure that aren’t an embarrassment and that are fixed for the future instead of patched for the short term; We’ve simplified that to ‘A.C.E.’S.’ which represents the real kitchen table issues that our families face on a daily basis and keeps both our families and out city from achieving success. Our city’s overall poverty and lack of jobs is a large part of our inability to move forward. There are many interconnected causes of poverty and challenges to fully lifting all of our friends and neighbors out of the perpetual cycle of poverty that has for too long defined the character of our city and the nature of our citizens’ lives. Our campaign believes we must come together to develop, pursue, and implement effective programs and policies toward these ends including: ‘A’ — Neighborhood-driven zoning and land-use regulations — Affordable housing incentives — Neighborhood Revitalization — Controls on unchecked gentrification — Mortgage Assistance Programs — Expanded Banking Access — thorough review of all impact fees and external governmental costs to housing — inclusive zoning –density bonuses for affordable units — working w state and federal agencies to maximize the efficiency of dollars that Clem to us. — ensuring that seniors can afford to stay in their homes ‘C’ — Aggressive Recruitment of new NOPD officers to reach full employment at NOPD — Responsible Police Education and Training Programs — utilizing technology to make the NOPD customer friendly, accessible and more efficient — Neighbourhood Policing — Bringing back bicycle & foot patrols to our neighborhoods — Encouraging our residents to become police through local recruiting — encouraging our police to become our neighbours through housing incentives — keeping crime out of our neighborhoods with increased patrols and more special units — working to ensure punishments match the crimes and keeping folks out of jail/prison for minor non-violent offenses — after school programs for youths in at risk neighborhoods ‘E’ — A REAL Living Wage — recruitment of real jobs and the creation of new industries outside of tourism — Ensuring education is continual throughout life — Investing in Early Childhood Education Programmes — Providing quality daycare for working parents — a sicktime leave for employees ordinance — Extending educational opportunities for older youth from within the classroom outward to within the neighbourhood. — Fully funding and expanding Adult Education, ESL, literacy, and jobs skills training programs. — Providing free access to city-wide WIFI network ensuring children can benefit from all the internet offers regardless of household income. ‘S’ — a renewed city effort to replace streets and ensure that companies working for the city are giving us the best price and best results — a total study of all the cities streets and infrastructure that prioritized streets based on biggest need — re-prioritization of the city’s budget to work on these infrastructure deficits — Flat-Streets initiative to resurface streets and make them drivable — overall effort to work on bringing down car insurance rates in the city so driving isn’t cost prohibitive These are the core goals of our campaign and details behind our A.C.E.S. platform. Certainly, there is much more to work toward and many additional means of pursuing our goal of a happy healthy New Orleans filled with happy healthy and successful New Orleanians but this is a start and most importantly these are achievable, attainable, and immediately possible areas from which to start us all down this journey together.	”
—Frank Scurlock (2017)

See also

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Mayor of New Orleans

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