New Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman

The result of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's election this Saturday could give the United States its first glimpse at a progressive Sheriff — or the city could return to its conventional incumbent, Sheriff Marlin Gusman, who has run a jail that has been shrouded in controversy since he overtook it in 2004.

Susan Hutson scored a key endorsement from a progressive elected official Friday in the runoff race on Dec. 11 against incumbent New Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman.

With Saturday's election producing six races without a clear favorite, voters have less than a month to decide their stances on candidates, including a divisive sheriff's election that could give the city its first female sheriff.