Turnout was low in Saturday’s primary election, but those who did set the stage for some turnover among New Orleans elected officials next month.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell won a second term as expected, winning 65 percent of the vote among just 75,325 ballots cast.
But other incumbents saw their hopes of remaining in office in jeopardy, needing to win a runoff election on Dec. 11 to keep their office.
One of the night’s biggest surprises was the failure of Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to secure a fifth term by winning more than 50 percent of the primary vote.
Gusman’s support Saturday topped out at 48 percent, forcing him into a runoff next month against former Independent Police Monitor Susan Hutson, who got 35 percent of the vote.
Only two of New Orleans’ seven current city council members are assured of returning next year. Council president Helena Moreno easily defeated her challenger and Joe Giarusso III retained his District A seat representing Uptown.
