Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans and co-chair of Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign, is contemplating a run for presidency himself. When asked if he would support another presidential bid by Harris, Landrieu offered a nuanced response.
“I like her very much. I enjoyed serving with her. I thought she ran a good campaign under very difficult circumstances,” Landrieu stated on Newsweek’s The 1600 podcast. However, he stopped short of endorsing her. “If she wants to run, everybody should run. I don’t think we ought to be in the business of telling people what to do or what not to do,” he added. “I think the country is looking for something different and something new.”
Landrieu concluded his remarks with advice for any political hopefuls. “If you feel like you got in your heart and your soul you feel you have something to give to the country, get out there and let the voters tell you whether or not you get to stay on the island.” On the question of whether he is considering a presidential run, Landrieu confirmed, “I am thinking about it. I’ll make a decision at the appropriate time.”
The South as the Battleground
Landrieu, who has also served as Louisiana’s lieutenant governor and as President Joe Biden’s infrastructure coordinator, emphasizes the importance of engaging with the general populace. “Democracy is not self-operating,” he said. “A president alone will not save us.” He criticized the current political dynamics where public institutions seem unable to counterbalance figures like former President Donald Trump. “The senators are not coming. The congressmen are not coming. The only people who can save this country are the people.”
He highlighted the significance of the South in shaping American politics, underlined by his docuseries ‘The Long Play,’ which examines political trends in Southern states. Population shifts are a major factor, he explained, with people moving from places like California to states like North Carolina and Tennessee. “When people move, things change.”
Democrats, according to Landrieu, have suffered due to neglecting the region. “There has been a massive disinvestment politically in trying to build things in the South,” he noted. “If you want people to vote for you, you have to go see them, even if you’ve been losing.” He pointed out the close race in Texas between Democratic candidate James Talarico and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as evidence of shifting political winds.
In Texas, recent polls show Talarico leading. Siena College’s survey places him ahead of Paxton 49% to 43%, while Emerson College finds a tighter race at 47 to 46. Hispanic voters in Texas, who previously supported Trump, now favor Talarico by a significant margin.
A Warning on Litmus Tests
Landrieu observed that voters are increasingly dissatisfied with political party alignments. He argued that the working class feels marginalized by a system perceived as unfair. “If you’re not with me a hundred percent, you’re not with me at all,” Landrieu cautioned, labeling such a viewpoint as detrimental politically and otherwise.
Reflecting on his tenure as mayor, he defended his decision to remove Confederate monuments in New Orleans. “I’d do it twice as fast and I’d do more if I could,” he asserted, referring to the monuments as “a lie.”
Landrieu also stood by the Biden administration’s efforts on infrastructure, countering criticisms about delayed project execution. He highlighted that $800 billion was allocated swiftly, enabling 73,000 projects, despite the limited political gains. “Politically, it didn’t help very much, I agree with that,” he said. “But in terms of a good piece of public policy that’s really gonna impact the future of the country, I stand by it.”
Watch the full conversation between Mitch Landrieu and Carlo Versano in the video player above or on YouTube. Subscribe to The 1600 newsletter for more interviews and to receive Carlo’s popular daily column straight to your inbox.
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