Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson Look Forward to the Runoff
The final field is set for Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional district. With a huge field of 15 candidates, a runoff was likely. And most predicted that Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson would be the top two finishers. They are. But there was a big surprise in the race. Gary Chambers’ sudden rise in the final days of the campaign. In fact, the Baton Rouge native narrowly missed topping Carter Peterson for the second spot in the race. Now. his endorsement could play a big role in the final outcome.
The district is largely based in New Orleans but snakes up the Mississippi River parishes and includes a part of Baton Rouge. The district was drawn to provide African American representation in Congress. This is typically a liberal stronghold and the top three candidates’ philosophies were almost identical. The race came down to personalities and funding.
Carter raised the most money and led in the polls throughout. Carter Peterson received the financial and strategic support of national women’s rights groups, most notably including Georgia’s Stacey Abrams. Chambers came on late with the support of national progressive groups.
Turnout and Home field
Troy Carter dominated across the board winning every parish except Iberville and West Baton Rouge. The biggest surprise was that Chambers beat Carter Peterson in metro New Orleans, while she beat him in Baton Rouge. Claston Bernard’s performance was another surprising factor. The African American Republican ran strong in the two parishes Troy Carter did not win.
In our look at the Congressional runoff, we examined turnout. Turnout was higher in New Orleans than Baton Rouge and the river parishes. But during his victory speech, Carter made special mention of both Baton Rouge and the river parishes. Carter seems determined to improve upon his strong showing there in the runoff. In Baton Rouge, Chambers activism and previous support was able to influence President Sharon Weston Broome. She did not endorse during the general election. Her endorsement in the runoff will also have a huge impact.
Related: Our Look at the 2nd Congressional Primary
Troy Carter’s now famous $1 million attack ad on Carter Peterson was more effective than her Oscars trip corrupt politician ad. The biggest beneficiary of those ads was probably Gary Chambers. Unscathed and unknown he rose precipitously after those attacks.
The Data for Our Look at the Congressional Runoff
The path to victory in the runoff seems tight and narrow for Carter Peterson. T. Carter beat her in 90% of the precincts, including her own Senate district in New Orleans. Her performance also imperils the BOLD political organization. If Troy Carter soundly defeats Carter Peterson, then Jay Banks political future is less secure. And the BOLD organization is left without any top tier political office to claim.
The rumors have already started. Will Ms. Carter Peterson drop out of the runoff? Endorsements and fundraising over the next week will be a big tell.
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Publisher — Black Source Media
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Peterson fired the teachers. We did not forget