Mitch Landrieu Declines to Endorse Harris, Highlights Shifting Southern Politics

Former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu, who co-chaired Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign, told Newsweek’s The 1600 podcast that he will not commit to backing a Harris bid in 2028.

Newsweek

Landrieu argued that demographic moves are reshaping the South, noting people are leaving California and relocating to states such as North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. He warned that “there has been a massive disinvestment politically in trying to build things in the South,” and said Democrats must engage directly with voters there. In Texas, he cited a Siena College poll scheduled for September 8-11 that puts Democratic candidate James Talarico ahead of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton 49 % to 43 %, while an Emerson College poll for the same period shows a tighter 47 %-46 % split and a 15-point swing toward Talarico among Hispanic voters who previously supported Donald Trump.

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• Siena College (survey scheduled September 8-11): Talarico 49 % vs Paxton 43 %.

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• Emerson College (survey scheduled September 8-11): Talarico 47 % vs Paxton 46 %; Hispanic voters 54 % for Talarico, 39 % for Paxton.

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• Landrieu cited Trump’s national approval at 33 % and disapproval at 61 %, a net rating of -28.

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• He credited the Biden administration’s infrastructure law with $800 billion spent and 73,000 projects launched in 18 months, though he admitted the political payoff was limited.

Newsweek

Landrieu stressed that democracy “is not self-operating” and that ordinary citizens, not a single president, must drive change. He warned against “litmus tests” that demand total loyalty, calling such rigidity a losing proposition for the country. While defending the infrastructure law as a lasting public-policy achievement, he acknowledged its modest electoral benefit.

Newsweek

• “I like her very much. I enjoyed serving with her. I thought she ran a good campaign under very difficult circumstances,” — Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor

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• “People are moving out of California, or maybe not necessarily into Florida anymore but from Florida to North Carolina, or people are moving from New Jersey down to Tennessee,” — Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor

Newsweek

• “There has been a massive disinvestment politically in trying to build things in the South,” — Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor

Newsweek

• “If you're not with me a hundred percent, you're not with me at all. In my opinion, that is a losing proposition, politically, spiritually, economically and for our country,” — Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor

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• “Politically, it didn't help very much, I agree with that,” — Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor

Newsweek