Austin's future is on the ballot this November, and the decisions voters make about who leads City Hall will shape everything from housing affordability and public safety to transit and climate resilience for years to come. If you care about this city, now is the time to pay attention.
Contested races for Austin mayor and several City Council seats are drawing a diverse field of candidates — from longtime community organizers and neighborhood advocates to business-aligned voices and progressive reformers. Each brings a distinct vision for how Austin should grow, who it should serve, and what problems deserve urgent attention.
Stakeholders across the city are watching closely. Affordable housing advocates want to know which candidates will push back against displacement and support density done right. Small business owners are looking for leaders who understand the economic pressures squeezing Austin's independent economy. Environmental groups are pressing candidates on green infrastructure and CodeNEXT-era land use reforms. And renters — now a majority in many parts of the city — want seats at the table where decisions get made.
On the other side, some neighborhood associations and homeowner groups are backing candidates who favor slower growth and stronger community input processes. The tension between preservation and transformation is real, and it plays out differently in every district across the city.
Local elections often come down to turnout, and in Austin, off-cycle municipal races have historically seen very low participation. That means your vote carries outsized weight — and so does your ability to bring others to the polls.
What you can do right now:
Austin belongs to everyone who lives here. The people who show up in local elections are the ones who get to decide what that means in practice. Don't sit this one out.