In the 2021 New Orleans City Council elections, Lesli Harris New Orleans made headlines by unseating incumbent Jay Banks in District B. The night also saw Freddie King III win District C, Eugene Green narrowly claim District D, and Oliver Thomas defeat Cyndi Nguyen in District E. Despite low voter turnout, these results marked significant changes in the city’s political leadership.
Four city council seats have been decided in tonight’s election, with several upsets:
In District B, entertainment lawyer Lesli Harris defeated incumbent Jay Banks in a stunning upset. Harris claimed 56.6% of the vote to Banks’ 43.4%. Only a fifth of District B voters showed up for the runoff.
In District C, Freddie King III has defeated Stephanie Bridges, claiming 62.1% of the vote to Bridges’ 37.9%.
In an incredibly close race in District D, Eugene Green defeated Troy Glover by only 60 votes. Only 23 percent – less than one quarter – of that district’s voters turned out.
Finally, in District E, Big Easy Magazine predicts that Oliver Thomas has defeated incumbent Cyndi Nguyen. As of 10:30pm, Thomas held 56.6 percent of the votes to Nguyen’s 43.4% with 98% of the votes reported.
For more on the political shifts shaping New Orleans and how city council races tie into broader city policies, explore our in-depth coverage.
