A Family of Service

In New Orleans, the Willard name means service. It’s a family tradition woven deep into the city’s political fabric.

Matthew Willard’s decisive victory in the City Council At-Large race adds a new chapter to that legacy. From Elliot Willard to Cynthia Willard-Lewis to Ben Willard, the family has guided more than a dozen campaigns to victory. They have spent generations serving this community with competence and commitment.

Matthew didn’t just inherit the name. He earned his moment.

From Baton Rouge to City Hall

Before this race, Willard was already a proven public servant. As a state representative, he authored and passed 36 bills, a record few young legislators can match. His focus was results, not rhetoric.

The City Council At-Large seat offered him a broader platform to serve his city directly. He framed his campaign around effective leadership, proven achievement, and family values.

Voters responded to that message. They wanted competence and stability. Willard offered both.

A Tough Opponent

The contest was supposed to be close. Another House member, Delisha Boyd, entered the race with strong credentials and her own base in Algiers, one of the city’s largest neighborhoods.

She also had the endorsement of Congressman Troy Carter, a valuable boost for any local candidate.

At first, it looked like a classic matchup between two talented legislators making the jump to City Hall. But as the weeks passed, the race tilted heavily in Willard’s favor.

Money, Message, and Machine

Willard built a disciplined campaign that out-raised and out-organized everyone. He ran a citywide operation while Boyd remained tethered to her home base.

His fundraising was robust, his endorsements broad, and his ground game precise. The Willard family machine was in full motion again.

That combination of resources and reputation created a clear path to victory. Voters saw a candidate with both the pedigree and the discipline to lead.

The Late Campaign Bombshell

Then, just days before the election, a bomb dropped. Reports emerged of financial irregularities inside the Boyd campaign. The allegations included violations of campaign finance rules and possibly criminal conduct.

The news spread fast and crippled Boyd’s momentum. Her numbers fell almost overnight.

Willard had nothing to do with the scandal. He never mentioned it, never piled on. He stayed positive, stayed focused, and stayed visible. That contrast mattered.

By Election Day, the result was never in doubt. Willard won in a landslide.

A Bad Night for Troy Carter

Boyd’s collapse did more than end her campaign. It highlighted the shrinking influence of Congressman Troy Carter.

Carter endorsed multiple candidates this cycle. Most lost. Only Helena Moreno, whom he backed late, could claim victory.

That pattern speaks volumes. In politics, leaders are judged by their coattails—their ability to lift other candidates to office.

Strong coattails show organizational reach and trusted judgment. Short coattails signal decline. Voters expect their congressman to recruit and prepare young talent. When those proteges fall, it raises questions about his political touch.

Carter’s short coattails this season show a shift in power. New Orleans is ready for fresh leadership that can stand on its own.

The Face of the Future

Matthew Willard represents that future. He’s young, smart, and disciplined. He won the right way—through organization, message, and substance.

His rise shows that New Orleans is hungry for new voices who deliver results without the drama.

Willard is more than a winner; he’s a sign of what’s next for this city. A leader rooted in legacy but focused on tomorrow.

Expect to hear his name for years to come. Matthew Willard is the new face of New Orleans politics—and the leader our community has been waiting for.