Unofficial election results show council member Chito Vela has been reelected to Austin City Council's District 4 seat. In the five-candidate race, Vela received 58.51% of votes, or 11,020, followed most closely by Monica Guzman who earned 27.71% of votes, or 5,219.
Vela told Community Impact he is excited to serve the District 4 community for another term and continue to work on growing Austin's infrastructure.
"Austin has a city council that is ready to invest in infrastructure,” Vela said. "It's time to really accept that we’re a global city and make the infrastructure investments that we absolutely need."
Vela has represented District 4 since 2022.
All results are unofficial until canvassed. Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
Posted 11:06 p.m.
Council member Chito Vela is still in the lead for Austin City Council's District 4 seat. He has received 60% of the vote with 10,406 votes in total. Monica Guzmán follows with 26.72% of the counted vote. Candidates Herrin, Rabuck and Romero each have less than 10%.
Posted 8:22 p.m. Nov. 5
Council member Chito Vela is likely on his way to reelection in North Central and East Austin's District 4 City Council race with 61.76% of the early vote, based on results released Nov. 5.
What you need to know
The five-person race for North Central and East Austin's District 4 City Council seat could be headed for a runoff, based on early voting results released Nov. 5. Incumbent council member Chito Vela opened election night with 61.76% of the early vote in his district.
He's trailed most closely by Monica Guzmán, policy director for Go Austin/Vamos Austin who won 25.68% of the early vote, candidate Louis Herrin with 5.69% of the early vote, and candidates Jim Rabuck with and Eduardo ''Lalito'' Romero who each earned less than 5%.
All results are unofficial until canvassed. Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
The context
Vela arrived on the City Council dais after winning the 2022 special election to replace former council member Greg Casar. In that race, Vela outpaced the rest of the seven-candidate field—which also included Guzmán—to win with almost 60% of the vote.
At City Hall, Vela has championed various land-use reforms with the goal of increasing Austin's housing production and tamping down on housing costs. He supported the controversial "HOME" initiative, and other updates like allowing taller apartment buildings near single-family homes.
Vela's also promoted transit upgrades like the Project Connect rail and bus system—and related bike and pedestrian improvements—added shade structures in city parks, pet microchipping, police transparency and oversight, and opposition to some state-level policies.
Guzmán said District 4 is ready for new leadership who listens to residents' concerns, with policy concepts like improved city partnerships to expand affordable housing and equitable budgeting based on community engagement. She's also proposed halting Project Connect for a new vote on the plan while rolling out more localized transit services, and capping police funding growth.
Rabuck said he'd like to see the city strategically collaborate more with private entities, ranging from local businesses to tech industry giants like Tesla. He said his affordability push would center on granting tax relief for long-time city residents and streamlining city services to cut costs.
Herrin's priorities include public safety and enforcing Austin's public camping ban. Romero didn't respond to Community Impact's candidate questionnaire and doesn't have a policy platform online.
