Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Mitch Landrieu
Mitchell Joseph Landrieu served as the mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, from 2010 to 2018. He was first elected in 2010 and won re-election to a second term in 2014.[1]
Landrieu was the lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2010 and a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1988 to 2004.[2]
On November 14, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) announced he would appoint Landrieu as a senior advisor responsible for coordinating and implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.[3] Landrieu resigned from the position in January 2024, and began working on Biden's 2024 re-election campaign.[4]
Biography
Born on August 16, 1960, Landrieu was the fifth of nine children born to Moon and Verna Landrieu. He grew up in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans. After graduating from Jesuit High School, he enrolled at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 1985, he earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Loyola University Law School in New Orleans.[2]
Landrieu's father, Moon, served as mayor of New Orleans, and his sister Mary Landrieu was a U.S. senator.
Career
Below is a brief outline of Landrieu's political career.
- 2010 - 2018: Mayor of New Orleans
- 2004-2010: Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
- 1988-2004: Louisiana House of Representatives
Presidential preference
2016 presidential endorsement
✓ Landrieu endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[5]
- See also: Endorsements for Hillary Clinton
Issues
Removal of Confederate monuments
On May 19, 2017, a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was removed from a downtown circle by city workers. The Lee statue was the final removal of four monuments to the history of the Confederate Army throughout the city. The New Orleans City Council approved the removal of these monuments in December 2015 after Landrieu proposed their removal as a means of easing racial tensions in the city. The council's resolution was challenged in state and federal court over the next 18 months. Opponents of their removal argued that the monuments were part of the city's identity and acted as visual markers for city neighborhoods.[6]
Following the Lee statue's removal, Landrieu gave a speech about the city's rationale for removing Confederate monuments. A portion of this speech is excerpted below:
| “ |
We have not erased history; we are becoming part of the city’s history by righting the wrong image these monuments represent and crafting a better, more complete future for all our children and for future generations. And unlike when these Confederate monuments were first erected as symbols of white supremacy, we now have a chance to create not only new symbols, but to do it together, as one people. In our blessed land we all come to the table of democracy as equals. We have to reaffirm our commitment to a future where each citizen is guaranteed the uniquely American gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is what really makes America great and today it is more important than ever to hold fast to these values and together say a self-evident truth that out of many we are one. That is why today we reclaim these spaces for the United States of America. Because we are one nation, not two; indivisible with liberty and justice for all... not some. We all are part of one nation, all pledging allegiance to one flag, the flag of the United States of America. And New Orleanians are in... all of the way. It is in this union and in this truth that real patriotism is rooted and flourishes. Instead of revering a 4-year brief historical aberration that was called the Confederacy we can celebrate all 300 years of our rich, diverse history as a place named New Orleans and set the tone for the next 300 years. After decades of public debate, of anger, of anxiety, of anticipation, of humiliation and of frustration. After public hearings and approvals from three separate community led commissions. After two robust public hearings and a 6-1 vote by the duly elected New Orleans City Council. After review by 13 different federal and state judges. The full weight of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government has been brought to bear and the monuments in accordance with the law have been removed. So now is the time to come together and heal and focus on our larger task. Not only building new symbols, but making this city a beautiful manifestation of what is possible and what we as a people can become.[7][8] |
” |
| —Mitch Landrieu (2017) | ||
Homelessness
At a candidate forum on January 8, 2014, Landrieu was criticized by his opponents for his approach to dealing with the city's poor. In response, Landrieu argued that the city had seen hundreds of new jobs and the razing of many dilapidated buildings under his leadership. Questioned by challengers Bagneris and King for his handling of a significant development contract that had failed to comply with the city's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, Landrieu maintained that the contract would not be allowed to move forward unless the firm complied with the program's requirements. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program stipulates that companies seeking public contracts include a 35 percent participation level from disadvantaged business (often, those owned and operated by women or minorities).[9]
Elections
2014
- See also: New Orleans mayoral election, 2014
Landrieu ran in the 2014 election for mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana. Landrieu defeated Danatus King and Michael Bagneris in the blanket primary on February 1, 2014.[10][11]
| Mayor of New Orleans, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
 Mitch Landrieu Incumbent |
63.6% | 53,441 | |
| Danatus N. King | 3.1% | 2,638 | |
| Michael Bagneris | 33.3% | 27,991 | |
| Total Votes | 84,070 | ||
| Source: Louisiana Secretary of State | |||
2003
Mitch Landrieu's 2003 campaign for lieutenant governor was his first bid for statewide office in Louisiana. In a field of six candidates, Landrieu garnered nearly 53 percent of the vote and won outright in the Louisiana open primary, thus avoiding a runoff.[12]
1994
In 1994, Landrieu made an unsuccessful bid for the office of mayor of New Orleans. The office went to Marc Morial.[13]
Fundraising
2013
In December 23, 2013, Landrieu's re-election campaign had approximately $1.2 million on hand. Between October 25 and December 23, 2013, his campaign raised more than $203,000, primarily from donors contributing less than $1,000.[14][15]
Endorsements
2014
On January 6, 2014, the Landrieu campaign announced that President Barack Obama had endorsed Landrieu's re-election bid.[16]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Landrieu is married to Cheryl P. Landrieu, an attorney. They have five children and reside in New Orleans, Louisiana.[2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Mitch + Landrieu + New + Orleans"
See also
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- New Orleans, Louisiana mayoral election, 2014
- United States municipal elections, 2014
External links
- Official campaign website
- Social Media
Footnotes
- ↑ New York Times, "Mitch Landrieu Is Re-elected Mayor of New Orleans," February 2, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 City of New Orleans - Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu, "Biography," accessed January 16, 2014
- ↑ White House, "President Biden Announces Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu as Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator," November 14, 2021
- ↑ The New York Times, "Mitch Landrieu, Biden’s Infrastructure Czar, Moves to Presidential Campaign," January 8, 2024
- ↑ The Advocate, "New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu endorses Hillary Clinton," February 17, 2016
- ↑ NPR, "With Lee Statue's Removal, Another Battle Of New Orleans Comes To A Close," May 20, 2017
- ↑ The New York Times, "Mitch Landrieu’s Speech on the Removal of Confederate Monuments in New Orleans," May 23, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, "New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu rival Michael Bagneris gains Democrats' endorsement, despite Obama backing Landrieu," January 12, 2014
- ↑ Sun Herald, "New Orleans Mayor: Voters have spoken - again," February 2, 2014
- ↑ New Orleans Times Picayune, "Mitch Landrieu sails to second term as mayor of New Orleans," February 2, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results for 10/4/2003," accessed January 16, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results for 2/5/1994," accessed January 16, 2014
- ↑ The Times Picayune, "Michael Bagneris builds instant war chest in bid against Mitch Landrieu for mayor of New Orleans," January 3, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Ethics Administration Program, "Candidate's Report - Mitch Landrieu - 30th day prior to primary," accessed January 16, 2014
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, "President Barack Obama endorses Mitch Landrieu in New Orleans mayoral race," January 6, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ray Nagin |
Mayor of New Orleans 2010–2018 |
Succeeded by LaToya Cantrell |
| ||||||||||
 |
State of Louisiana Baton Rouge (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
