The race to replace Rep. Cedric Richmond raging

By Christopher Tidmore
Contributing Writer

While Rep. Cedric Richmond might not have yet resigned to take his White House post, the contest to succeed him in the Second Congressional District race is certainly underway.

State Senator Troy Carter was seen having coffee with Darren Lombard and members of his brain trust at the Still Perkin’ coffeehouse on the corner of Prytania and Washington Avenue in the Garden District’s Rink Shopping Arcade. Notably, the famed lunch spot (with its salads and desserts) sits in the heart of Karen Carter Peterson’s senatorial district, quite a distance from Troy Carter’s West Bank-based seat.

The two Carters, no relation, constitute the first two announced candidates to succeed Congressman Richmond.

Karen Carter-Peterson launched her campaign website within days of President-elect Biden naming Richmond as his intended pick as the head of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Soon after, Troy Carter made clear to The Louisiana Weekly that he too was a candidate for the U.S. House, and sources close to Richmond admit that Troy Carter might have a good shot at winning the congressman’s endorsement as his successor.

The news comes as a blow to Sen. Carter-Peterson, who as the outgoing La. Democratic Chair was thought to be the prohibitive favorite to fill the seat. In her favor, however, is that the contest for the 2nd Congressional seat will be a crowded affair and will include two other allies of Richmond, New Orleans at-large City Councilmember Helena Moreno and State Sen. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge. Both are also thought to have outside shots at Richmond’s support, and the inclusion of the latter in the field of contenders displays how much the 2nd District has evolved in recent decades.

To maintain its 61-percent African-American voter registration, a legislative gerrymander drew the seat northward, up the Mississippi River from its Orleans and predominantly West Jefferson traditional base.

It stretches as far as Baton Rouge, and as the former congressman for much of that area, Fields would have a chance to dominate the vote against his metro New Orleans rivals. Countering this advantage, Fields might potentially face former St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom or Randal Gaines of LaPlace, both of who have expressed interest in the race and could divide the district’s extra-New Orleans electorate. A prominent Jefferson Parish candidate, Rep. Kyle Green Jr. of Marrero, might also have an impact on Fields’ strategy but could as well cut into Troy Carter’s support on the West Bank.

Other potential candidates include Orleanian political heavyweight Jimmy Harris, State Rep. Royce Duplessis, and Public Service Commissioner Lambert Boissiere III. Considering that the off-year election could see turnout as low as 15-20 percent, such an array of candidates means that nearly all have a shot at the runoff.

As the only prominent non-African-American contender amongst the senior Democrats, Helena Moreno would be thought – under normal circumstances – a prime contender for runoff slot. She has a particular appeal to the 25 percent of the district registered as independents, not to mention the nearly 12 percent who label themselves Republicans. The Councilwoman’s great fear, though, is that a GOP candidate also could qualify to run.

This article originally published in the December 7, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.