Nagin, Landrieu Face Run-Off. Tens of Thousands of Displaced Residents Barred from Voting

On Saturday, New Orleans held its first election after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Mayor Ray Nagin and Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu won the two top spots and will face each other in a run-off in May. The race pitted 22 candidates against each other and brought national scrutiny on the shifting racial dynamics of the city. Because many African-Americans still have not been able to return to New Orleans, the city faces the possibility of a white mayor for the first time in almost 30 years. The last white mayor was Lieutenant Governor Landrieu's father, Moon Landrieu who left office in 1978.

Thirty-six percent of the city's 297,000 eligible voters participated in the election. Mayor Nagin received 38% of the vote while Landrieu had 29% of the vote. According to an analysis of demographic data by GCR & Associates, Nagin received 65 % or more of the vote in predominately black neighborhoods. This is almost a complete reversal from four years ago, when he received most of his support from white voters. More than 20,000 voters cast ballots early by mail, fax or at satellite voting stations around the state. Displaced citizens were not allowed to vote by satellite if they were staying outside of Louisiana.

* Ted Shaw, is Director-Counsel and President of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

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