Austin City Council Results: Casar, Pool Win; 2 Headed To Runoffs

AUSTIN, TX — With most polling places reporting election results late into the night on Tuesday, a December runoff election was all but a certainty in two Austin City Council districts.

In District 6, incumbent James "Jimmy" Flannigan — first elected in 2016 — was the top vote-getter in both Travis and Williamson counties in collecting 40.3 percent of the votes. Short of the majority needed to avert a runoff, he is now slated to face off against Mackenzie Kelly in next month's runoff.

Incumbent Alison Alter also is destined for a runoff for the District 10 seat after securing 32.40 percent of the vote compared to challenger Jennifer Virden's 25.43 percent. With a field of seven candidates sharing votes from voters, a majority of the vote proved elusive in avoiding a runoff election.

In District 4, incumbent Greg Casar handily won reelection for a third term with nearly 70 percent of the vote against a pair of challengers.

Polls opened in Texas at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.

Results will be posted as they come in:

DISTRICT 2

David Chincanchan: 5,033

Vanessa Fuentes: 14,803

Casey Ramos: 5,221

Alex Strenger: 1,319

Delia Garza has long represented District 2, which comprises much of southeast Austin. Her imminent departure leaves a wide open race with four contenders vying for the seat: David Chincanchan; Vanessa Fuentes; Casey Ramos; and Alex Strenger. Garza is running unopposed for the Travis County Attorney seat after winning a runoff and race in July.

Results will be posted as they come in:

DISTRICT 4

Greg Casar: 11,555 (winner)

Louis C. Herrin III: 4,277

Ramesses II Setepenre: 1,453

Although the results weren't official shortly after 8 p.m., incumbent Casar had achieved 67 percent of the votes — prompting him to declare victory by early evening. He called his 40-point win a clear mandate for the progressive agenda he's championed over the last four years on city council.

“Austin has the opportunity to become a model for what progressive and inclusive governance can achieve," he said in a prepared statement. "We are leading the nation in reimagining public safety, investing in affordable housing, finding solutions to climate change, protecting lives from COVID-19, and focusing recovery efforts where they’re needed the most. Despite constant fear-mongering from extremist officials like the governor, Austin has spoken loud and clear. We’re not going to be bullied, and we’re not going to turn back from our progressive values.

“Elections are not destinations, but doorways. We've proven that progressive policies are popular, that they win, and that they change lives for the better. And now, our work continues.”

In his third term in office, Casar said he hopes to expand on his work adcovating for the city's working families, having passed alongside the community and his council colleagues "...the city’s largest investment in affordable housing, reformed police use-of-force policies, invested in community safety and mental health programs, fought back against the anti-immigrant SB 4, kept the East Austin Planned Parenthood clinic open, passed the first “Fair Chance” and Paid Sick leave policy in the South, ended arrests for personal possession of marijuana, and protected low-income renters from predatory investors."

He had faced a pair of challengers this election in the form of Louis C. Herrin III and Ramesses II Setepenre. Casar has run largely on a record of spearheading social issues, and has emerged as a vocal critic of the Austin Police Department following tactics used on protesters in May that left protesters injured when non-lethal munitions were used to disperse the crowds. District 4 encompasses north-central Austin.

Results will be posted as they come in:

DISTRICT 6

James Flannigan: 14,123

Dee Harrison: 2,551

Mackenzie Kelly: 11,744

Jennifer Mushtaler: 6,700

The race for District 6 encompassing Northwest Austin also pits an incumbent against challengers. James Flannigan, the incumbent, will face off against Dee Harrison, Mackenzie Kelly and Jennifer Mushtaler.

Results will be posted as they come in:

DISTRICT 7

Leslie Pool: 27,255

Morgan Witt: 13,275

In North Central Austin, the District 7 council incumbent will fight for votes against challenger Morgan Witt.

Results will be posted as they come in:

DISTRICT 10

Alison Alter: 15,539

Bennett Easton: 841

Belinda Greene: 1,338

Robert Thomas: 7,552

Noel Tristan: 384

Pooja Sethi: 8,226

Jennifer Virden: 11,553

District 10 in Northwest Austin is the mother lode of candidates, with seven candidates vying for the seat. Incumbent Alison Alter faces a half-dozen challengers: Bennett Easton; Belinda Greene; Robert Thomas; Noel Tristan; Pooja Sethi; and Jennifer Virden.

Those longing for more ideological diversity on the council dais will be watching if conservative candidates will break the ironclad progressive makeup. Currently, the council comprises left-thinking incumbents after the departures of former conservative-minded seat holders Ellen Troxclair and Don Zimmerman.

Stay updated with the latest election results and news in Texas. Subscribe to free real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch.

Troxclair stepped down from her council seat in 2018 while Zimmerman was trounced in an election against Flannigan — who secured 56 percent of the vote — in 2015 after a mere two years on the dais. Post-council, both Troxclair and Zimmerman have become advocates for conservative representation in local government. The former now is a board member for a fledgling political action committee supporting conservative candidates while Zimmerman has been raising money for conservative candidate Kelly in the race for District 6 that encompasses West Austin.