Posted 10:30 p.m. Nov. 3
Austin City Council's three incumbent candidates appear headed for reelection or December runoffs against their challengers, while leaders are emerging in two open council races, based on early voting results released Nov. 3.
This story will be updated as more results are released, and all results are unofficial until canvassed.
The big picture
Elections are being held in five of Austin's 10 geographic council districts this fall. Three feature first-term incumbents seeking to hold their seats, while two will send new representatives to City Hall in 2027. Residents can look up their council district online.
In East Austin's District 1, six candidates are vying to succeed current council member Natasha Harper-Madison. Amber K. Goodwin is leading the field with nearly 36% of the vote based on early returns, followed by Misael Ramos at just over 35%.
Runoff elections are required if no candidate earns more than 50% of the vote, and would be held Dec. 12 if needed. Goodwin and Ramos are well ahead of any other candidate in the race; Michael Nahas was at 25% of the district vote.
In District 3, council member José Velásquez was close to holding his seat representing East and South Central Austin—but may head to a runoff with 49% of the early vote. He's followed by Neha Shah in the five-person race; she and Velásquez would face off in a December runoff if the incumbent remains below the 50% threshold.
Velásquez was first elected in a 2022 runoff, earning just over 53% of the district's vote.
In South Austin's District 5, incumbent council member Ryan Alter leads a four-person field with a 48.6% vote share followed by challenger David Weinberg at more than 26.5%. They'd face off in a December runoff if early results hold.
Alter also won his seat in the 2022 runoff with almost 60% support.
Selena Xie appears headed toward a victory in Southwest Austin's District 8 race to succeed outgoing two-term council member Paige Ellis. Xie has more than 65% of the early vote in the two-person contest, while Jeffery Bowen trails with 34.5%.
Finally, incumbent Central Austin council member Zo Qadri leads his race and could avoid a runoff with 53% of the early vote in District 9. Of his four challengers, Rich Heyman is in the next-closest position with just under 25%.
Qadri was also first elected in the 2022 runoff, which he won with 51.2% of the district's vote.
