In the News

July 21, 2024- By: Carlie K. Wells

"Richard "Ricky" Twiggs Jr., an independent from Algiers, appears to be the first candidate openly campaigning. He bought billboards earlier this summer declaring "Twiggs for mayor" and has a social media presence."

https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/07/31/project-2025-new-orleans-oliver-thomas

April 10, 2025- By: Athina Morris

According to his website, Twiggs is a psychotherapist from Algiers who’s running as an independent. He’s advocating for mental health, justice, crime and health care reform along with cannabis legalization and infrastructure improvements. His 200+ page platform and transition plan can be downloaded from his website.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Twiggs said he helped establish an addiction facility in New Orleans East and expand an outpatient program for the area. He also helped unhoused women and LGBTQ+ people secure housing through NAMI New Orleans. Right now, he runs a private practice serving teens in New Orleans and surrounding areas.

His campaign provided the following statement to WWNO:

"Many reporters and political consultants state that I am the underdog. Yet, in a recent poll by JMC Analytics when asked if the Mayoral election were held today who would you vote for(?). The people of NOLA did not choose Helena Moreno, Arthur Hunter, Oliver Thomas, etc. The majority (37%) were undecided. When asked if the city was going in the right direction 59% reported that it was NOT. This tells me what we all know to be true. New Orleans is ready for new leadership. For too long, we have been governed by the same politicians who have failed us and now have the audacity to run on new promises of "change". I am the candidate that they feared would come. The candidate of the people.

I am not a politician, but I am a son of this city and a challenger to the broken systems that feed on our suffering. This election is a battle for the soul of New Orleans. We have waited long enough for change. Now, we must disrupt. We must wake up. We must reclaim the dignity and future that have been denied to us by the political machine. This is our moment and quite possibly our only chance to bring forth real change. And history will remember whether we chose courage or familiarity, whether we chose action or apathy. I ask you to fight against voter apathy/cynicism. Fight against the corruption. Fight for a brighter tomorrow."

https://www.wwno.org/politics/2025-04-10/get-to-know-the-candidates-running-for-new-orleans-mayor-so-far

October 21, 2024- By: Carlie K. Wells

"Ricky Twiggs: Twiggs, a licensed counselor, announced his candidacy earlier this year as an independent.

"One party has dominated our politics," he said of the Democratic stronghold in New Orleans. "They've had 150 years to create substantial change and promises have not been fulfilled."
He tells Axios he's accepting donations but mainly self-funding his campaign. "Money is nice but it doesn't win elections. Votes win elections. I'm investing in voters."
His platform focuses on anti-corruption, mental health, education reform and modernization of the city's infrastructure and utilities."

https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/10/21/new-orleans-mayor-candidates-2025-whos-running-campaign-election

May 21, 2025- By: Brian Fairbanks

Candidates for local office, like Ricky Twiggs, remain unmoved. “[The SWB] admitted at least three pumps failed,” he wrote publicly on Instagram. “If that’s what ‘working as designed’ looks like—then we need to ask: Who was this system designed to fail?”

https://prismreports.org/2025/05/21/new-orleans-sewerage-and-water-board-flooding/

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