The Giant Cone, once the city’s most grounded political figure and leading voice for street-level reform, has officially announced it will not run in the 2025 New Orleans mayoral election.
In a statement affixed to a battered yield sign near Broad Street, the Cone cited “systemic obstructions, repeated detours in democracy, and a rigged political landscape” as the primary reasons for declining to run this election cycle.
“I threw my tip in when the city needed a steady presence,” the Cone’s message read. “Mayor Cantrell clearly wasn’t up to the task, and while others talked, I stood firm through storms, festivals, and at least six documented abductions. I stood and I still stand.”
“I never flew first class, and I never flew away during a crisis,” the Cone never had to clarify. “In fact, I’ve never flown… minus a few strong gusts during Ida.”
A symbol of direction, durability, and quiet resolve, the Giant Cone rose to prominence during the 2021 campaign cycle, drawing widespread support from frustrated citizens. Early polling showed the Cone with a commanding 78% lead, though it was ultimately barred from the ballot in what supporters called a “coordinated cover-up by the city’s elite.”
“They blocked the Cone because they couldn’t control it,” said longtime supporter Geneva Theroux, who says she has personally un-dented the Cone after multiple hits. “It doesn’t lie. It doesn’t spin. It just is. It took hits and kept standing. The support was definitely there, at least until the establishment said otherwise.”
Neutral Ground News In 2021, the Giant Cone stood tall over a long-neglected pothole, becoming a symbol of hope, direction, and unshakable civic duty — even as it was surrounded by lesser cones and blocked from appearing on the mayoral ballot.
Known for its tireless work ethic and refusal to accept campaign donations, the Giant Cone introduced a platform of unwavering civic service during its 2021 campaign:
Why Vote for Giant Cone? 2021 Election
- Highly visible in the community
- Moves people without saying a word
- Never stops working
- Street tough, ethically grounded
- Larger-than-life presence with no ego
- Communicates well, even without a mouth
- Current on taxes
- Never leaves town
“Giant Cone actually got a pothole filled in just a few months,” said Sarah Robbins of the 9th Ward. “With that kind of breakneck speed, imagine what else it could’ve done.”
While the 2025 field features traditional politicians like Helena Moreno, Oliver Thomas, and Arthur Hunter, many voters feel the Cone’s absence leaves a gaping void in the center lane of the campaign.
“There’s a void in our city’s leadership, and I was ready to fill it,” the Cone reflected in a follow-up napkin taped to a construction barrier. “But this cycle, I’m going to remain in the street.”
When asked about a future run, sources close to the Cone say it is focused on “roadway stabilization, emotional support, and doing the job no one else wants to.”
Still, supporters remain hopeful.
“I may not be running,” the Cone concluded, “but I’ll always be standing — for you, for your tires, and for what’s right.”
At press time, the Cone stood firm at Freret and Napoleon, demonstrating that true leadership isn’t about power or paychecks. It’s about showing up and standing up for the people.
A cautionary reminder from the Giant Cone’s website during its 2021 run for mayor of New Orleans, highlighting that some of the city’s roughest patches aren’t in the streets — they’re in the leadership.