The election campaign opened with the attempt of two-term mayor Marc Morial to change the city charter to allow him to run for a third term.

The candidates agreed on most major issues, including the need to boost the city's economic climate by eliminating patronage and improving public schools.

Some controversy arose from one of Nagin's main campaign planks, a proposal to sell or lease the city's Louis Armstrong International Airport and use the money to improve roads and schools.

Pennington found his main base of support in predominantly African-American neighborhoods, winning 217 black-majority precincts to Nagin's 46.

The primary results were also seen as a rejection of New Orleans politics-as-usual; both the runoff candidates were political newcomers despite the candidacies of several prominent politicians.