Austin City Council District 5 · Nov 3, 2026
Ryan Alter
Candidate for City Council District 5 (incumbent)
Ryan Alter, the incumbent, is running for Austin City Council District 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Liz Brink, David Weinberg and Farrah Abraham.
Last day to register to vote · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayAn engineer and lawyer with degrees from UT Austin and Harvard Law School who worked as a Texas Capitol staffer before joining the council in 2023.
- Endorsed by
- Mayor Kirk Watson; council members Fuentes, Velásquez, Vela, Laine, Siegel, Ellis and Qadri; Travis County Judge Andy Brown and four county commissioners; state Reps. Sheryl Cole, Vikki Goodwin and John Bucy Alter campaign website (accessed Oct 2, 2026)
- Campaign website
- www.ryanforatx.com
Where Ryan Alter stands: positions on the record
Budget and taxes2 sourced positions
Voted yes in the roll call adopting the city budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 (passed 9-2, Aug 2026).
Council voteAustin City Council Aug 12, 2026 budget meeting transcript (official minutes not yet posted) · Aug 12, 2026
Voted yes on calling the November 2025 tax rate election for a rate of $0.574017 per $100 (passed 11-0, Aug 2025).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · Aug 13, 2025
Housing2 sourced positions
Voted yes on starting code changes to allow two- and three-unit homes in all zoning districts where housing is permitted (passed 9-1, May 2026).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · May 7, 2026
Voted yes on a citywide density bonus program allowing added height in exchange for affordable housing (passed 8-1, May 2026).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · May 21, 2026
Dog's Head development1 sourced position
Voted yes on Ordinance No. 20260723-111 creating Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 21 for Dog's Head (passed 7-3, July 2026).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · Jul 23, 2026
Bonds2 sourced positions
Voted yes on directing the city manager to prepare a November 2026 bond election ordinance (passed 8-3, Aug 2026).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · Aug 4, 2026
from the city's automated transcript of the candidate panel; not an edited quote
Supports the parks bond, citing the risk that Garrison Pool could close without repair funds.
Forum answerCity of Austin District 5 candidate panel, automated transcript (voice-to-text, unedited) · Sep 17, 2026
Homelessness2 sourced positions
Voted yes on buying a building at 2401 South Interstate 35 for up to $4,375,000 (passed 8-3, Oct 2025).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · Oct 9, 2025
Says preventing homelessness is the cheapest and most effective tool and should be used more.
Own statementCommunity Impact candidate Q&A · Sep 11, 2026
Energy1 sourced position
as reported by The Austin Bulldog; not a direct quote
Said he opposes fossil fuel power plants and would vote to cancel the gas peaker plants if given the chance.
Forum answerThe Austin Bulldog (Aug. 22 Clean Water Action/Public Citizen forum) · Aug 30, 2026
City spending1 sourced position
Voted yes on creating a citywide Comprehensive Efficiency Assessment Program under the City Auditor (passed 11-0, Feb 2026).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · Feb 26, 2026
Public safety1 sourced position
Voted yes on an ordinance setting rules for city use of surveillance technology (passed 10-0, April 2026).
Council voteAustin City Council minutes · Apr 23, 2026
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for Austin City Council District 5 in 2022 (won in a December runoff).
Own statementCity of Austin Resolution No. 20221221-001 canvassing the Dec 13, 2022 runoff · Dec 21, 2022
What Ryan Alter said vs. how Ryan Alter voted
Homelessness
In their words
Says preventing homelessness is the cheapest and most effective tool and should be used more.
Sep 11, 2026 ·Community Impact candidate Q&A (answers limited to 50 words and may be edited) ·Community Impact candidate Q&A · Sep 11, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on buying a building at 2401 South Interstate 35 for up to $4,375,000 (passed 8-3, Oct 2025).
Oct 9, 2025 ·Austin City Council minutes · Oct 9, 2025
Also running for City Council District 5
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