New Orleans mayoral election, 1977
Encyclopedia
The New Orleans mayoral election of 1977 resulted in the election of Ernest Morial as the first African-American mayor of New Orleans.
—with the exception of U.S. presidential elections—follow a variation of the open primary system. Candidates of any and all parties are listed on one ballot; voters need not limit themselves to the candidates of one party. Unless one candidate takes more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a run-off election is then held between the top two candidates, who may in fact be members of the same party. In this election, the first round of voting was held on October 1, 1977, and the runoff was held on November 12.
Runoff, November 12
Background
Elections in LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
—with the exception of U.S. presidential elections—follow a variation of the open primary system. Candidates of any and all parties are listed on one ballot; voters need not limit themselves to the candidates of one party. Unless one candidate takes more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a run-off election is then held between the top two candidates, who may in fact be members of the same party. In this election, the first round of voting was held on October 1, 1977, and the runoff was held on November 12.
Results
Primary, October 1| Candidate | Votes received |
|---|---|
| Ernest Morial | 41,182 |
| Joe DiRosa Joe DiRosa Joseph Martin "Joe" DiRosa is the owner of the New York Artist Series, L. A. Artist Series and Miami Artist Series.- Early life :... |
36,862 |
| Nat Kiefer | 36,597 |
| DeLesseps "Toni" Morrison, Jr. DeLesseps Morrison, Jr. deLesseps Story "Toni" Morrison, Jr. , the older son of four-term New Orleans Mayor DeLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr. , was an American attorney and international business consultant who was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1974–1980... |
32,176 |
| Thomas Lewis Giraud | 5,215 |
| Herbert W. Christenberry, Jr. | 1,381 |
| Joel Aber | 377 |
| Rodney Fertel | 293 |
| Cecil M. Shilstone | 191 |
| Thomas Joseph Garnier | 188 |
| George A. Aiavolasiti | 181 |
Runoff, November 12
| Candidate | Votes received |
|---|---|
| Ernest Morial | 90,539 |
| Joe DiRosa | 84,325 |
Sources
- Board of Supervisors of Elections for the Parish of Orleans. Election Returns of Orleans Parish, 1977.