FINALLY, something about New Orleans that makes sense. Something the rest of the country might even benefit from. Something to do with...politics. Good old corrupt, grafting, name calling Louisiana patronage politics. It's the runoff election.
The way it works is that all the candidates run against each other even and if someone gets more than 50% of the vote, they're in. If no one gets to 50%, there's a runoff between the top two (?) candidates. At first glance it's just another opportunity for mudslinging, the more savvy candidates saving the best dirt for the runoff.
But think about it, the major parties are their own worst enemy when it comes to choosing candidates. They either have to appeal to their extremists due to voter apathy or end up in the pocket of campaign donors. Putting all the candidates on the ballot allows the full electorate to vote on the full slate. Candidates hoping to appeal to a broader spectrum of voters moves the discussion more toward the center. Voters in states with one dominant party get more choices and not just the anointed candidate.
New Orleans politics has a well earned reputation for venality and childishness but I'm starting to see the light when it comes to runoff elections.