2020 Baton Rouge mayoral election

2020 Baton Rouge mayoral election

←  2016 November 3, 2020 (first round) December 5, 2020 (runoff) 2024  →
Turnout	70.2% (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: Broome:   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Carter:   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90%
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

• 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

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

Polling

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 [15]	Released October 14, 2020	– (V) [b]	–	41%	14%	6%	13%	6% [c]	19%

Results

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. ^[16]

Runoff results

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. ^[17]

See also

• 2020 Louisiana elections

Notes

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

1. "City elections in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
2. Morgan, Samatha (December 5, 2020). "Mayor Broome projected to win second term". WAFB . Retrieved December 6, 2020.
3. "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. Baton Rouge Area Chamber
16. Hays, Robb (November 3, 2020). "2020 Election Results: EBR mayor-president race headed to runoff". WAFB. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
17. Morgan, Samantha. "Mayor Broome projected to win second term". www.wafb.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.

External links

Official campaign websites for mayoral candidates

• Jordan Piazza (I) for Mayor-President Archived 2020-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
• Matthew Watson (R) for Mayor-President Archived 2020-10-13 at the Wayback Machine