Austin City Council elects, candidates react to results

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- KXAN has projected all five Austin City Council races in the November 2024 general election. Four of those races were won outright and one will go to a runoff.

The Austin mayoral race is still too close to call. You can read why here.

District 2

Incumbent Vanessa Fuentes will keep the District 2 seat after a commanding win over a single challenger in November's election.

During her tenure, Fuentes has focused on issues such as raising the city worker minimum wage to $20, expanding paid parental leave to 12 weeks, and improving access to full-day Pre-K in Del Valle ISD. Fuentes, a former community health advocate with the American Heart Association, has positioned herself as a champion of workers’ rights and education.

“This victory belongs to every person who believes in our shared vision for our community and our city,” Fuentes said in a statement after her victory. “Our community faces real challenges, but I’ve never been more hopeful about what we can accomplish together. Together, we will keep fighting for good-paying jobs, complete and connected neighborhoods, and high-quality city services that make a difference in people’s lives.”

District 4

Incumbent Council Member Jose "Chito" Vela will also retain his seat in District 4.

"Thank you, Austin! It’s been the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve the residents of District 4 on #ATXCouncil. Really looking forward to my second term. We have a good council that believes in the city and is ready to invest in infrastructure. Let’s go!" he said on X.

A former immigration and criminal defense attorney, Vela has been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform, housing, and public safety. He was first elected in a 2022 special election, securing 60% of the vote.

District 6

Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, the incumbent and only Republican member of the Austin City Council, conceded to her challenger in a social media post Wednesday.

"Really proud of the work we accomplished, but we came up short this time. Thank you to everyone who supported us. I'll continue to fight for our community--because we're all fighters. Just because we're down today doesn't mean we're ever out. Onward to the future!"

Next year, challenger Krista Laine will take the role as District 6's city council member.

“We've worked so hard, and we won't stop working to bring more effective city services to D6. I'm excited to continue building a community that is more connected, safe, and welcoming for all!" Laine posted.

Laine is a parent and public school advocate. Laine has been active in the Round Rock Independent School District’s safety and security committee and has created advocacy groups focused on public education. Her platform has included addressing the needs of students, families, and communities in collaboration with local governments.

District 7

This one's not over. Mike Siegel and Gary Bledsoe will head to a runoff in District 7. That means no one candidate in the race was able to reach more than 50% of the overall vote, so the two candidates with the most votes will go head-to-head this December.

Only Austinites in District 7 will be asked to head back to the polls for this race. The runoff election will look like this:

• Dec. 2: Early voting begins
• Dec 3: Last day to apply for ballot by mail
• Dec. 10: Last day of early voting
• Dec. 14: Election Day

Gary L. Bledsoe

Bledsoe is an attorney and has been president of the Texas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1991, according to the NAACP.

“Bledsoe’s ties with the NAACP enabled him to make substantial civil rights changes, which include his handling of racial discrimination complaints against the Austin Department of Public Safety that dismantled racial barriers that prevented minorities and women from becoming Texas Rangers,” his NAACP bio reads.

You can read more about Bledsoe’s priorities and background on his campaign website. 

Mike Siegel

Siegel — formerly the City of Austin’s assistant city attorney — has a background in public education, nonprofit and legal work, according to his campaign website.

“As a teacher, Mike taught third grade, fifth grade, and eighth grade in the public schools, and was active in his teachers’ union. He has co-founded multiple nonprofit organizations, including Ground Game Texas, which fights for democracy and social justice through local issue campaigns in cities across the state,” his campaign website says.

You can read more about Siegel's priorities and background on his campaign website.

District 10

With Alison Alter reaching her term limit, two candidates emerged to replace her in District 10 and Mark Duchen came out on top.

"We did it, y'all! I'm SO grateful for the volunteers, endorsers, donors, and other supporters who made our #D10 victory possible. Our team ran a campaign based on community collaboration and inclusivity, values that I'll bring to the #ATXCouncil. See you at City Hall!" he said in a post on X.

Duchen has been involved in neighborhood policy and various political action committees, including the City Accountability Project PAC. He advocates for responsible development and neighborhood preservation.

“That involves more public safety, that has been the number one issue of this campaign,” he told KXAN. “It’s going to involve listening to neighborhoods and homeowners and businesses for land use issues.”