Troy Carter Bio
Troy Anthony Carter Sr. (born October 26, 1963) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the Louisiana State Senate representing the 7th district and earlier was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the New Orleans City Council. Carter is also an educator who has taught political science at Xavier University of Louisiana.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University of Louisiana, began graduate work at Carnegie Mellon University, completed an executive program at Harvard Kennedy School, and holds a Master of Science from the University of Holy Cross. He has been active in state and local policy, with a focus on labor rights and anti-discrimination legislation.
Early Life and Background
Troy Anthony Carter Sr. was born on October 26, 1963, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He grew up on the Westbank of New Orleans and attended Oliver Perry Walker High School in the Algiers neighborhood, where he completed his secondary education.
After graduating from high school, Carter enrolled at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he studied business administration and political science and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He later began a master’s program at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Urban and Public Affairs, and he also completed an executive training program at Harvard Kennedy School.
He went on to receive a Master of Science in management from the University of Holy Cross. Carter was raised Catholic and has remained connected to faith-based and civic communities in his hometown throughout his career.
Path to US Politics
Carter’s path into public service began at the local level in New Orleans. Before running for office, he served six years as executive assistant to New Orleans mayor Sidney Barthelemy, an experience that shaped his understanding of municipal government and constituent services.
In 1991, Carter was elected as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, becoming the first African-American to serve District 102 in the Louisiana House. In 1993, as a state representative, he introduced legislation to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, signaling an early focus on civil rights protections.
He was elected to represent District C on the New Orleans City Council in 1994 and served there until 2002. That year, he made an unsuccessful bid for mayor of New Orleans, losing in the primary. He later ran unsuccessfully for Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district seat in 2006 against then-incumbent William J. Jefferson before returning to the state legislature in 2015.
Troy Carter Career
Early Career (1991–2002)
Carter’s early career in elected office began in 1991 with his election to the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he represented District 102 and quickly became known for his work on anti-discrimination policy. In 1993, he authored legislation to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, a measure that previewed the priorities he would carry into higher office.
He transitioned to the New Orleans City Council in 1994, representing District C for eight years. During that period he chaired the Algiers Development District and worked on local economic growth, while also engaging with educators as an adjunct political science instructor at Xavier University of Louisiana.
State Senate and Statewide Leadership (2015–2020)
After several years out of public office, Carter returned to elected politics in 2015 when he won a seat in the Louisiana State Senate representing the 7th district. In the 2015 runoff election, he received 12,935 votes (56.8%) to Jeff Arnold’s 9,852 (43.2%).
During his time in the state Senate, Carter authored or co-sponsored 75 bills that went on to become law. He also served as chair of the Louisiana Senate Democratic Caucus and chaired the Senate’s Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, focusing on raising the state’s minimum wage and strengthening anti-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
U.S. House of Representatives Era (2021–Present)
In 2021, Carter ran to fill the congressional seat vacated by Cedric Richmond, who had been selected to serve in the Biden administration. On March 20, 2021, he finished first in the top-two primary and advanced to a runoff against state Senator Karen Carter Peterson, winning the April 24, 2021, runoff with 48,511 votes (55.2%) to her 39,295 (44.8%).
He was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district on May 11, 2021, a victory that increased the Democratic Party’s House majority to 219–212. On August 12, 2022, he voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis, he voted with President Joe Biden’s stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Carter’s most notable milestones is becoming the first African-American to represent District 102 in the Louisiana House. He is also one of two Democrats in Louisiana’s congressional delegation, and his 2021 special election win was backed by a broad coalition that included Cedric Richmond, John Breaux, eight congressional Democrats, the AFL–CIO, and the Louisiana Democratic Party.
Troy Carter Career Wins
Troy Anthony Carter Sr. has built a steady record of electoral wins spanning more than three decades, beginning with his 1991 victory in the Louisiana House of Representatives and continuing through his 2021 congressional win.
State and Local Election Highlights
Carter’s first major win came in 1991 when he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 102. He followed that with a 1994 victory for the District C seat on the New Orleans City Council, where he served until 2002.
His most recent state-level win was the 2015 Louisiana State Senate runoff for the 7th district, where he captured 56.8% of the vote.
Congressional Election Highlights
Carter’s signature win was the April 24, 2021, special election runoff for Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district, where he defeated Karen Carter Peterson with 55.2% of the vote to claim the seat.
Troy Carter Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Carter was born and raised on the Westbank of New Orleans, where he continues to reside. He identifies as a Baptist and has deep roots in the local community that shaped his political career.
Spouse and Children
Carter’s wife, Andreé Navarro Carter, serves in the United States Army Reserve and has achieved the rank of Major General. He has two sons with his first wife, former New Orleans television news anchor Melanie Sanders, and is a father who has balanced family life with decades of public service.