Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Austin City Council Election 2026

5 of 11

council seats up

5 contests

22 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

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City Council District 1 · 1 seat

Alexandria AndersonA small business owner who chairs the city's Commission for Women and the African American Resource Advisory Commission and has led the MLK Neighborhood Association.4sourced
Steven BrownA healthcare professional of 20 years who serves on the Givens Park Advisory Board and the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition board.6sourced
Amber K. GoodwinAn assistant district attorney in Travis County who chaired the city's Gun Violence Task Force and founded the Community Justice Action Fund.4sourced
Michael NahasAn economist with a master's degree in economics from UT who chairs the city's Economic Prosperity Commission and sits on the board of a nonprofit housing cooperative.5sourced
Misael RamosA community organizer whose experience includes work as a foreclosure prevention specialist and chairing the Blackland Community Development Corporation.5sourced
Portia RigginsA lifelong District 1 resident whose experience includes appraisal support at the Travis Central Appraisal District, accounting at the Texas Realtors association and work at Austin 3-1-1.3sourced

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

City Council District 8 · 1 seat

City Council District 9 · 1 seat

Five district seats are on the ballot; you vote only in your own district's race. A candidate needs a majority to win outright, or the top two meet in a Dec. 12 runoff.

6 notes on these statements

Council candidates must win a majority of the vote of residents in their district. City of Austin Ordinance No. 20260806-003 ordering the Nov 3, 2026 general election · Aug 6, 2026

Eduardo "Lalito" Romero did not attend the Austin Current, Austin PBS and KUT District 3 forum. Austin Current (Austin Current/Austin PBS/KUT forum) · Oct 1, 2026

Portia Riggins was unable to join the Sept. 15 District 1 forum but shared some positions by email. Austin Current (Sept. 15 Austin Current/Austin PBS/KUT forum) · Oct 1, 2026

José Velásquez did not respond to Community Impact's District 3 questionnaire before press time. Community Impact candidate Q&A · Sep 17, 2026

Dave Thadani and Kai Huang did not respond to Community Impact's District 9 questionnaire before press time. Community Impact candidate Q&A · Sep 16, 2026

The city's candidate panel transcripts are automated voice-to-text and have not been edited for errors. City of Austin District 9 candidate panel, automated transcript (voice-to-text, unedited) · Sep 29, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Marc DuchenCouncil member, District 10, elected Nov 202411sourced Vanessa FuentesCouncil member, District 2, re-elected Nov 20246sourced Krista LaineCouncil member, District 6, elected Nov 20249sourced Mike SiegelCouncil member, District 7, elected in a December 2024 runoff9sourced José "Chito" VelaCouncil member, District 4 (mayor pro tem), term runs through January 202910sourced Kirk WatsonMayor, elected Nov 2024 to a term that began Jan 6, 202511sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz8 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget, taxes and the efficiency audit, Housing and the Dog's Head development, Homelessness and public safety Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to vote

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget, taxes and the efficiency audit

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council adopted a $6.6 billion FY2027 budget and set the property tax rate at the most allowed without voter approval, after voters rejected a larger increase in November 2025.

What's on the tableThe FY2028 budget and tax rate, and how to act on the citywide efficiency audit; voters also decide Proposition I on Nov. 3.

The FY2026-27 tax rate was set at $0.579948 per $100 of property value, the maximum allowed under state law without seeking voter approval. Community Impact · Aug 12, 2026
The council approved the budget 9-2, with Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Marc Duchen voting against. Austin Current · Aug 12, 2026
Proposition I would amend the charter to require an independent audit of all city operations every five years. Austin Current · Jul 15, 2026
In February the council approved an ordinance requiring recurring efficiency assessments of all city departments every three years. Austin Current · Jul 15, 2026

Housing and the Dog's Head development

Where it standsThe council has kept loosening land rules to allow more homes, and in July 2026 it created a tax increment zone to finance the 2,600-acre Dog's Head development in Southeast Austin.

What's on the tableThe next HOME-related code changes and the remaining approvals for Dog's Head.

In May 2026 the council started code changes to allow two- and three-unit homes in all zoning districts where housing is permitted (9-1). Austin City Council minutes · May 7, 2026
In May 2026 the council approved a citywide density bonus program allowing more height in exchange for affordable housing (8-1). Austin City Council minutes · May 21, 2026
The council created Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 21 for Dog's Head on a 7-3 vote in July 2026. Austin City Council minutes · Jul 23, 2026
Dog's Head could include as many as 12,000 homes and 4 million square feet of industrial space. Austin Current · Jul 23, 2026

Homelessness and public safety

Where it standsThe city has added shelter and housing capacity but homelessness remains highly visible, and the police department has hundreds of vacant officer positions.

What's on the tableFunding for homelessness programs and the new homeless services center, police staffing, and the new emergency communications office.

Emergency shelter beds have increased by 70% since 2022, according to the city's summary of the 2025 ECHO report. City of Austin news release
In October 2025 the council approved buying a building at 2401 S. Interstate 35 for a new city-owned homeless services center. KUT News · Oct 9, 2025
As of January 2025, APD had more than 330 vacancies among its sworn officers. Office of the City Auditor
The FY2026-27 budget includes $1.4 million to create an Office of Joint Emergency Communications. City of Austin news release · Aug 12, 2026

Parks and library bonds (Propositions A and B)

Where it standsVoters will decide a $260 million parks bond and a $35 million library bond on Nov. 3.

What's on the tableHow and when to spend any approved bond money, and when to call the next bond election.

Proposition A is a $260 million bond for park improvements, pools and land; Proposition B is a $35 million library bond. Austin Current · Aug 6, 2026
City financial staff had recommended delaying a bond election until 2028. Austin Current · Aug 6, 2026
Mayor Watson and council members Duchen and Velásquez voted against the Aug. 4 resolution to prepare the bond election (passed 8-3). Austin City Council minutes · Aug 4, 2026
If both pass, the owner of a median-valued home would pay roughly $40 more a year in city property taxes. Austin Current · Aug 6, 2026

Data centers and power plants

Where it standsThe council has started writing rules for data centers, and its May 2026 authorization of new gas-fired peaker plants was made in closed session.

What's on the tableData center zoning and permit rules, and whether to proceed with the gas peaker plants.

In August 2026 the council voted 11-0 to start code amendments setting land uses and permit rules for data centers. Austin City Council minutes · Aug 27, 2026
Until the code changes are done, the city manager must report to the council before approving data center requests for more than 20 MW of electricity. Austin City Council minutes · Aug 27, 2026
In May 2026 the council authorized Austin Energy to acquire about 400 megawatts of new natural gas generation in a closed-door session, and individual votes were not released. The Austin Bulldog (Aug. 22 Clean Water Action/Public Citizen forum) · Aug 30, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. For FY2027 the council raised the city property tax rate to the most allowed without an election. What should the next council do?
2. Proposition I would write a recurring independent efficiency audit into the city charter. Where do you stand?
3. Austin has changed its land rules to allow more homes on smaller lots and more housing types. What should come next?
4. The council created a tax increment zone that will repay the Dog's Head developer's infrastructure costs from new taxes in the area. Where do you stand?
5. What should Austin's homelessness strategy emphasize most?
6. The police department has hundreds of vacant officer positions. What should the city do with police funding?
7. Voters will decide a $260 million parks bond and a $35 million library bond. Should they pass?
8. The council is writing rules for large data centers. What should they be?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Last day to register to voteAustin City ClerkOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsAustin City ClerkOct 19, 2026
Last day for a mail-ballot application to be receivedAustin City ClerkOct 23, 2026
Early voting endsAustin City ClerkOct 30, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)Austin City ClerkNov 3, 2026
Runoff election day (if needed)Austin City ClerkDec 12, 2026

The seat math

6 stay (not up this year): Marc Duchen, Vanessa Fuentes, Krista Laine, Mike Siegel, José "Chito" Vela, Kirk Watson5 on this ballot

11 council seats. The council decides by a 6-vote majority.

Austin's council has ten members elected by district and a mayor elected at large. City of Austin · Mar 30, 2023
Terms for the mayor and council members are four years, limited to two consecutive terms unless a member collects petition signatures from at least five percent of voters. City of Austin · Mar 30, 2023
The mayor votes on council items; for example, Mayor Watson was among those voting nay on the Aug. 4, 2026 bond resolution. Austin City Council minutes · Aug 4, 2026
On Nov. 3, 2026, voters elect council members for Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9, each by majority vote of voters in the district. City of Austin Ordinance No. 20260806-003 ordering the Nov 3, 2026 general election · Aug 6, 2026
The mayor and the members for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 were declared elected in November 2024 for terms beginning January 6, 2025. City of Austin Resolution No. 20241119-001 canvassing the Nov 5, 2024 election · Nov 19, 2024
A runoff election, if needed, is on Saturday, December 12, 2026. Austin City Clerk
District 1 council member Natasha Harper-Madison is leaving office in January after two terms. Community Impact candidate Q&A · Sep 14, 2026
District 8 council member Paige Ellis will leave office in January 2027 after reaching her term limit and unsuccessfully petitioning to run for a third term. Community Impact candidate Q&A · Sep 10, 2026

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