Austin City Council District 9 · Nov 3, 2026

Zohaib "Zo" Qadri

Candidate for City Council District 9 (incumbent)

22 candidates · 5 seats14 sourced positions

Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, the incumbent, is running for Austin City Council District 9 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Rich Heyman, Katie Kam, Dave Thadani and Kai Huang.

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Last day to register to vote · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Elected to the council in 2022; holds degrees from UT Austin, Texas State and Rice and chairs the council's Economic Opportunity Committee.

Endorsed by: U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Lloyd Doggett; state Reps. Sheryl Cole, Gene Wu, Donna Howard and James Talarico; Mayor Kirk Watson; council members Velásquez, Alter, Fuentes, Ellis, Laine, Siegel and Vela; Travis County Judge Andy Brown Qadri campaign website (accessed Oct 2, 2026)
Campaign website: www.zoforaustin.com

Where Zohaib "Zo" Qadri stands: positions on the record

Budget and taxes2 sourced positions

Was among the nine members voting yes on the $6.6 billion FY2027 budget, which raised property taxes 3.5%; only Watson and Duchen voted no (Aug 2026).
Council voteAustin Current · 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

Housing3 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
from the city's automated transcript of the candidate panel; not an edited quote
Called HOME successful by many metrics and said the city should keep building on parking reform and missing-middle housing.
Forum answerCity of Austin District 9 candidate panel, automated transcript (voice-to-text, unedited) · Sep 29, 2026

Dog's Head development1 sourced position

Voted no 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 both Proposition A and Proposition B.
Forum answerCity of Austin District 9 candidate panel, automated transcript (voice-to-text, unedited) · Sep 29, 2026

Homelessness1 sourced position

Voted no 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

Data centers1 sourced position

from the city's automated transcript of the candidate panel; not an edited quote
Said Austin should not have any new large-scale data centers built.
Forum answerCity of Austin District 9 candidate panel, automated transcript (voice-to-text, unedited) · Sep 29, 2026

Public safety2 sourced positions

as reported by The Daily Texan; not a direct quote
Says the city needs more trained professionals to handle mental health emergencies instead of police officers.
Forum answerThe Daily Texan · Oct 1, 2026
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

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

Past candidacies1 sourced position

Ran for Austin City Council District 9 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 Zohaib "Zo" Qadri said vs. how Zohaib "Zo" Qadri voted

Housing

In their words

Called HOME successful by many metrics and said the city should keep building on parking reform and missing-middle housing.
Sep 29, 2026 ·from the city's automated transcript of the candidate panel; not an edited quote ·City of Austin District 9 candidate panel, automated transcript (voice-to-text, unedited) · Sep 29, 2026

On the record

Voted yes on a citywide density bonus program allowing added height in exchange for affordable housing (passed 8-1, May 2026).
May 21, 2026 ·Austin City Council minutes · May 21, 2026

Public safety

In their words

Says the city needs more trained professionals to handle mental health emergencies instead of police officers.
Oct 1, 2026 ·as reported by The Daily Texan; not a direct quote ·The Daily Texan · Oct 1, 2026

On the record

Voted yes on an ordinance setting rules for city use of surveillance technology (passed 10-0, April 2026).
Apr 23, 2026 ·Austin City Council minutes · Apr 23, 2026

Also running for City Council District 9

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