Special election for Austin's District 4 council seat set for Jan. 25

The special election to fill Austin City Council Member Greg Casar's vacated District 4 council seat is set for Jan. 25.

The special election was ordered during council's Nov. 18 meeting. The election is needed to replace Casar on the 11-member dais due to his run for Congressional District 35, prompting his resignation from Austin City Council. Casar will continue to serve as a council member until his successor's swearing-in, which is expected to be Feb. 4.

Those interested in running for the District 4 seat may file for candidacy through Dec. 16.

The special election will be held under the existing boundaries of District 4 that Casar was elected into rather than the new district lines passed this fall. The winner of the election will serve out the remainder of Casar's four-year term ending in early January 2025.

District residents have until Dec. 27 to register to vote, and early voting will run from Jan. 10-21. A runoff election date is tentatively set for March 22 in the event that no candidate earns at least 50% of the vote in the special election.

City staff estimated the election will cost between $300,000 and $350,000. More information is available on the city's website.