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2020 Baton Rouge mayoral election

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2020 Baton Rouge mayoral election

← 2016 November 3, 2020 (first round)
December 5, 2020 (runoff)
2024 →
Turnout70.2% (R1)
34.4% (R2)
 
Candidate Sharon Weston Broome Steve Carter Matthew Watson
Party Democratic Republican Republican
First round 98,722
48.13%
40,757
19.87%
27,062
13.19%
Runoff 65,495
56.54%
50,353
43.46%
Eliminated

 
Candidate Jordan Piazza C. Denise Marcelle
Party Republican Democratic
First round 20,012
9.76%
14,603
7.12%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Results by precinct:

Mayor before election

Sharon Weston Broome
Democratic

Elected mayor

Sharon Weston Broome
Democratic

The 2020 Baton Rouge mayoral election was held on November 3, 2020 and December 5, 2020 to elect the mayor-president of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[1]

As no candidate won a majority in the first round, a runoff was held between the top two candidates, incumbent Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome of the Democratic Party and fmr. State Representative Steve Carter of the Republican Party. Despite initially tight polls in the runoff, which showed Carter within reach of winning the election, Broome won by a decisive margin.[2][3]

Held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, campaigning was limited to smaller private events, limiting both candidates' exposure and public attention on the race. Major issues of the race were: crime, economic development, pandemic recovery, infrastructure, and education. Due to consistently lack-luster public support of incumbent Mayor-President Broome, the race drew seven total candidates, the most a mayoral incumbent in East Baton Rouge Parish had faced in nearly 30 years.[4]

Following the race's conclusion, runner-up Steve Carter contracted COVID-19, dying two months later from COVID-19 related complications on January 26, 2021.[5] Carter's death was followed by an outpouring of fond emotion, including from his electoral opponent Broome, who stated, "You never saw him without a smile on his face and a hand extended to greet you, Steve was a Baton Rougean through and through. I am tremendously sad to have lost yet another friend and neighbor to COVID-19. Our thoughts and prayers are with Steve's family and his many friends as we mourn his great loss."

Declared

[edit]
  • Sharon Weston Broome, incumbent Mayor-President (party preference: Democratic)[6]
  • Steve Carter, former State Representative (party preference: Republican)[7]
  • E. Eric Guirard, attorney (party preference: Independent)[8]
  • C. Denise Marcelle, State Representative (party preference: Democratic)[9]
  • Jordan Piazza, owner of Uncle Earl's Bar & Phil's Oyster Bar (party preference: Republican)[10][11]
  • Frank Smith III, property manager (party preference: Republican)[12]
  • Matthew Watson, East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman (party preference: Republican)[13]

Disqualified

[edit]
  • Tara Wicker, Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman (party preference: Democratic)[14]

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Sharon Weston
Broome (D)
Steve
Carter (R)
C. Denise
Marcelle (D)
Matthew
Watson (R)
Other Undecided
Baton Rouge Area Chamber Released October 14, 2020 – (V)[b] 41% 14% 6% 13% 6%[c] 19%

Results

[edit]
2020 Baton Rouge mayoral election 1st round
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sharon Weston Broome (incumbent) 98,722 48.13%
Republican Steve Carter 40,757 19.87%
Republican Matthew Watson 27,062 13.19%
Republican Jordan Piazza 20,012 9.76%
Democratic C. Denise Marcelle 14,603 7.12%
Independent E. Eric Guirard 2,968 1.45%
Republican Frank Smith III 978 0.48%

The election resulted in a runoff between Broome and former Republican state representative Steve Carter, after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote.[15]

Runoff results

[edit]

Incumbent Mayor Sharon Weston Broome won the December 5 runoff after securing a decisive 57% of the vote. Broome's opponent, former State Representative Steve Carter received 43%.[2][3] Broome's victory was the first time any female had been re-elected to the position. Carter called Broome just after 9:30 p.m. December 5, 2020 to congratulate her on her victory. Baton Rouge has historically voted Democrat in its local elections. Only two Republicans have held the office over the last 100 years.[16]

See also

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Not yet released
  3. ^ Jordan Piazza (R) with 4%; "E Eric" Guirard (I) with 2%; Frank Smith (R) with 0%

References

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  1. ^ "City elections in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Morgan, Samatha (December 5, 2020). "Mayor Broome projected to win second term". WAFB. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "WBRZ News 2 Louisiana : Baton Rouge, LA | Election Results".
  4. ^ writers, TERRY L. JONES and BLAKE PATERSON | Staff. "Ready for a big mayor's race in Baton Rouge? Meet the field challenging Sharon Weston Broome". The Advocate. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  5. ^ writers, JACQUELINE DEROBERTIS and WILL SENTELL | Staff. "Steve Carter, former state representative who ran for Baton Rouge mayor, dies of coronavirus". The Advocate. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  6. ^ JONES, TERRY L. "Sharon Weston Broome says she'll seek re-election in 2020: 'I love the job I have'". The Advocate. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  7. ^ The Advocate Staff. "Former State Rep. Steve Carter joins East Baton Rouge mayoral race". The Advocate. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  8. ^ Jones, Terry. "E. Eric Guirard, Baton Rouge lawyer famed for TV commercials, plans unconventional run for mayor". The Advocate.
  9. ^ Paterson, Blake. "State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle is running for mayor-president to be 'the voice' of Baton Rouge". The Advocate. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Thomas, Rachael. "Baton Rouge businessman announces mayoral campaign". wafb.com. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Blake, Paterson | Staff. "Businessman Jordan Piazza announces run for East Baton Rouge mayor-president". The Advocate. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Jones, Terry. "At 76, Frank Smith isn't running to win the Baton Rouge mayor's race. He wants to send a message". The Advocate.
  13. ^ "Matt Watson Talks About Running For Mayor". Talk 107.3. May 27, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "Tara Wicker".
  15. ^ Hays, Robb (November 3, 2020). "2020 Election Results: EBR mayor-president race headed to runoff". WAFB. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  16. ^ Morgan, Samantha. "Mayor Broome projected to win second term". www.wafb.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
[edit]
Official campaign websites for mayoral candidates