Helena Nancy Moreno is the Mayor elect of New Orleans and the first Latina to be elected to the city’s highest office. She will be inaugurated on January 12, 2026. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Moreno immigrated to the United States at eight years old, learning a new language and culture while watching her parents build a new life. Her journey, rooted in resilience and public service, shaped her trajectory as a journalist, state leader, and citywide reformer.​

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Moreno earned her degree in mass communications from Southern Methodist University, later studying in Madrid and interning in the First Lady’s Office in Washington, DC. She began her career as an award winning investigative journalist at WDSU TV in New Orleans, where she covered major issues including Hurricane Katrina. Her on the ground reporting deepened her understanding of the systemic challenges facing New Orleans and inspired her transition into public service.

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Elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2010, Moreno served three terms and quickly became known for her policy leadership. She advanced legislation on public safety, criminal justice reform, environmental protections, education, and women’s health. Her work included strengthening domestic violence laws, expanding support for survivors, increasing transparency in policing, and authoring bipartisan reforms that modernized statewide criminal justice practices.

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In 2018, Moreno won a citywide election to serve as New Orleans City Councilmember At Large, later becoming Council President. In this role she led sweeping accountability and justice system reforms, including prohibiting no knock warrants, decriminalizing marijuana, expanding violence prevention initiatives, and championing gender equity. She also played a key role in modernizing energy regulation, creating a consumer centered approach to utility oversight, and improving emergency response systems. Moreno’s tenure on the Council was marked by a focus on transparency, equitable access to services, and rebuilding trust between residents and city government.

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During her 2025 mayoral campaign, Moreno ran on a platform centered on restoring essential services, strengthening public safety, repairing critical infrastructure, and returning hands on, daily leadership to City Hall. Her message resonated widely, earning her strong community support and national recognition. Latino Victory Fund endorsed her campaign and celebrated her win as an historic milestone for Latino representation and leadership in the South.