Senate District 3 contender Sidney Barthelemy II and House District 100 candidate Dana Henry clinched wins Saturday in a special runoff election to represent New Orleans in the state Legislature. 

Voters handed Barthelemy 64% of the vote over his opponent, lawyer Kenn Barnes, while Henry took 53% over attorney Kenya Rounds. Turnout in the District 3 and District 100 races was nearly 11% and 14%, respectively.

The races went to a March runoff after neither received more than a majority vote in the February primary that seated attorney Ed Murray to House District 97.  

Barthelemy will replace former state Sen. Joseph Bouie, now chancellor of Southern University, in a district that encompasses Gentilly, New Orleans East, downriver neighborhoods and St. Bernard Parish.  Henry will succeed former state Rep. Jason Hughes, who joined the City Council this year. District 100 covers New Orleans East.  

“I’m excited for the residents in New Orleans East and I look forward to making them proud and working every day to improve the quality of life, kids, families, business owners and residents of District 100,” Henry said Saturday.

In a prepared statement, Barthelemy said he would follow through on his campaign promises.

“I promise you that I will build consensus in the state Legislature to get results for you,” he said. “To protect our neighborhoods, get insurance reform for our residents so we can stay in our homes, help local businesses succeed and new businesses to get off the ground and thrive, and make our schools stronger so we all have real opportunity.”

Barnes conceded the race Saturday and said he was “ready to assist” Barthelemy when needed. Kenya Rounds did not return a call for comment.

“I feel great. I’m excited for the fact that I made it to a runoff, and I don’t take this as a loss. I take this as an example of what can happen when people try,” Barnes said.

The two and Murray are set to join New Orleans’ Democratic delegation for the annual legislative session that convened March 9 and runs through June 1. Because of the timing of the Feb. 7 primary that resulted in Saturday’s runoff, both will have a week to file any bills before the end-of-the-month deadline. They’ll be sworn in by the secretary of state on March 23. 

Coming in for the first time midsession could prove challenging for the new lawmakers, said political analyst and Dillard University professor Robert Collins.  

“Those (other) legislators have already been cutting deals, counting votes, calling in favors to get those bills passed. It’s going to be very difficult for them to get anything done in their first term,” Collins said. 

The delegation is poised to face another uphill battle this session as they advance their agendas and that of Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration in the majority Republican Legislature. Top of mind for Moreno is getting the city’s finances in order with revenue-generating legislation that will require backing from both sides of the aisle.  

The newcomers will consider those bills and hundreds of others Louisiana lawmakers put forth ahead of the session, including those that address issues Barthelemy and Henry have campaigned on — rising home insurance rates, affordability issues and economic growth. 

Collins said their effectiveness relies on building friendships and trust with other legislators, and he cautioned against them being overly ambitious once sworn in.  

Barthelemy and Henry grabbed a sea of endorsements from local politicos and policy organizations. U.S. Rep Troy Carter, City Council members at large Matthew Willard and JP Morrell and council member Jason Hughes penned Henry as their candidate. Barthelemy has received endorsements from Moreno, Carter and several other local elected officials. 

Barthelemy raised over $134,000 in the runoff, while  Henry raised roughly $32,000.

Barthelemy has tailored his career and his company, B-Squared Construction, around development projects that have “public impact” with a community focus, according to his initial campaign announcement.  

Among those projects are a New Orleans Head Start center, a fire station in Metairie and an apartment complex in New Orleans East. Earlier this month he said his experience gives him a bird’s-eye view of the city’s infrastructure needs.  

On the campaign trail, Barthelemy said he wants to focus on helping families with increased housing, expanding early childhood access and attracting new business. He also wants to steer state capital funds to city infrastructure and drainage projects. 

Henry is an attorney whose political experience spans interning for state legislators, serving as an ad hoc judge, and as an administrative hearing officer for the city’s code enforcement office, where he assessed whether property owners of blighted buildings were compliant. 

Henry said he wants to leverage state resources to bring new economic development opportunities to his New Orleans East district. He wants to focus on removing blight, litter abatement and other beautification efforts that could make New Orleans East “feel welcoming.”  

He also wants to help residents with the escalating costs of homeowners insurance, especially the large number of elderly residents in New Orleans East living on fixed incomes. 

Staff writer Ben Myers contributed to this report.