Willard vs. Boyd: What changed in a week
Early voting started with a bang. Voters opened their phones and saw finance posts about Delisha Boyd. The story spread fast. It hit during the first days of voting. That timing matters.
The race
At-Large Division 1 has three candidates: Matthew Willard (D), Delisha Boyd (D), and Matthew Hill (R). Hill is a long-shot. The contest is really Willard versus Boyd.
The spark
Two items drove the uproar.
- Payments involving family. A Gambit post said Boyd’s council campaign paid her daughter for “campaign work,” while the daughter also worked with an outside PAC. The post does not allege a crime. It questions judgment. The optics are bad in an at-large race. (Instagram)
- $39,000 to a family-linked company. NOLA.com/Times-Picayune reported that Boyd and a group backing her paid more than $39,000 to a company she co-owns with her daughter. The report also noted personal financial strain. (Facebook)
Voters saw the headline version first. Then the details. In politics, that order hurts.
Why the posts landed
VOTE (Voters Organized to Educate) boosted the narrative with a graphic that asked a simple question: Can a candidate under finance scrutiny help manage a $2B city budget? That message is clear. It is easy to share. It arrived as ballots were being cast. (Instagram)
What Boyd said
Boyd first called the attacks false. After reports cited filings, her message shifted. She suggested finances can be messy for most people in New Orleans. That line fell flat with voters facing mortgages, insurance bills, and rising costs. At-large members oversee the budget. Voters expect tighter books.
Where Willard stands
Willard benefits when he is not the story. His campaign didn’t even put out the negative information about Ms. Boyd. And he is running a strong campaign, keeping a clean message and a steady field plan. In this race, negative attention affecting Boyd clearly benefits Willard. Early voting makes that difficult to refute before voters cast their ballots.
The political backdrop
Boyd touts support from Rep. Troy Carter. Big backing helps—until a finance flap lingers. If this story stays hot, some heat can reach her allies. Redistricting also changed Carter’s district. Any added turbulence is unhelpful to his own reelection. (Verite News)
Related: Council Members Set Dangerous Precedent
What readers can verify
Do not rely on memes. Louisiana’s ethics portal hosts the filings. If a post cites a number, you can confirm it there in minutes. Everything posted about Ms. Boyd appears to be true. You can click here to confirm for yourself. (eap.ethics.la.gov)
What to watch next
- Does this story grow legs? Will the media continue to push it?
- Does Boyd publish invoices, hours, and rates for family payments?
- How big of a boost does Willard get in early voting in Gentilly, the East and Uptown?
- Will Algiers – Boyd’s base flip on her and support Willard?
Bottom line
This race just turned into a credibility test. The finance narrative hit during early voting. Unless Boyd answers with documents that settle the questions, the advantage clearly shifts to Matthew Willard. (Instagram)