State Sen. Troy Carter picked up two key endorsements Monday when state Sen. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge and Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng announced their support for him in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond.
Carter already had the endorsements of Richmond, the Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO and the Alliance for Good Government to represent a district that includes most of New Orleans and stretches up the Mississippi River through the west bank of Jefferson Parish and the river parishes into north Baton Rouge.
The Independent Women’s Organization of New Orleans, an important Democratic group, has endorsed both Carter and state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson of New Orleans, who is perhaps his top rival.
“Troy’s always been accessible and easy to work with,” said Lee Sheng, a Republican, noting that Carter’s Algiers-centered district includes a portion of Jefferson Parish’s west bank. “I have not had an opportunity to work with Karen,” she added -- although a small portion of Peterson’s district extends into the east bank of Jefferson Parish.
The endorsement from Fields, a Democrat, is particularly noteworthy because he serves with both Carter and Peterson in the state Senate and because he remains well known beyond his Senate district from the four years he spent in the U.S. House in the mid-1990s and his 1995 race for governor. His Senate district overlaps with the 2nd Congressional District.
Richmond’s support for Carter was decisive in his decision, Fields said.
“I’ve always been of the belief that if Cedric endorsed someone, I would not endorse someone different from him,” Fields said.
Carter, he said, “won't waste a second taking advantage of our majority in Congress to accomplish big goals: equal and fair housing, affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, equal pay and a living wage for all Americans.”
Fields added, “It’s always a tough spot when you have to choose between colleagues. One of them I will return to the Senate with.”
That, of course, assumes either Carter or Peterson wins the election. The primary is on March 20. Another 13 candidates are in the race, including Baton Rouge community activist Gary Chambers Jr., who has a huge following on social media.
Desiree Ontiveros, a New Orleans businesswoman who owns Bad Ass Balloon Co., showed she has some strength when she recently won a dual endorsement with Peterson from the New Orleans Coalition, which supports progressive candidates.
Peterson counts on the support of several Democratic state legislators: Rep. Larry Selders of Baton Rouge, Rep. Denise Marcelle of Baton Rouge, Rep. Candace Newell of New Orleans, Rep. Mandie Landry of New Orleans and Rep. Matt Willard of New Orleans.
“Endorsements are important for people who haven’t made up their minds,” said former state Sen. JP Morrell, D-New Orleans. “With potentially a low turnout, a lot of people might have already made up their minds.”
The Louisiana Democratic Party endorsed all eight Democratic candidates in the race. Peterson chaired the party from 2012-20.
