Mayoral election in Austin, Texas (2022)

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← 2018
2022 Austin elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: August 22, 2022
General election: November 8, 2022
Runoff election: December 13, 2022
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2022

Kirk Watson defeated Celia Israel in the December 13, 2022, nonpartisan general runoff election for mayor of Austin, Texas. Israel and Watson, who have both served in the state legislature as Democrats, were the top-two vote-getters in the November 8, 2022, general election. Israel received 40% of the vote and Watson received 35% of the vote. To win, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. This page covers the general runoff election. For coverage of the general election, click here.

Incumbent Stephen Adler did not run for re-election.

At the time of the election, Israel served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 50 as a Democrat. She assumed office in 2014. Israel said, "I have a reputation for having an open door and open mind, and I have the experience and tenacious leadership to help us find common ground at every opportunity."[1] Israel made housing affordability a central focus of her campaign. Israel said the city should use its unutilized public space to build more housing: "Austin could be doing more with its public space. It owns 6,000 tracts of land. That could be teacher housing, 911 operator housing, police housing."[2] Israel also campaigned on providing rental relief to renters, reducing parking requirements and increasing density, and making it easier for people to build accessory dwelling units on their property.[3] Israel's campaign has also focused on transportation and mobility, including pushing to "create bus lanes, and build protected bike lanes and sidewalks so everyone has a safe, affordable, and pollution-free option of moving around Austin."[4]

Watson served in the Texas State Senate, representing District 14 as a Democrat, from 2007 to 2020. He served as the mayor of Austin from 1997 to 2001. Watson ran his record as mayor, saying, "I have a proven record of success in getting big things done for Austin and we're in a point in time we're no longer becoming a big city — we're a big city and we need to do big things."[5] Watson's campaign focused on housing affordability. Watson proposed changing the city's development review process to make it faster to build more housing and temporarily halving development fees.[6] Watson's housing policy plan includes a plank to allow City Council members to propose district-specific housing policies: "What my plan does is it says ‘let’s ask the districts what they want to do in order to get us more housing,’ not to block off any housing."[7] Watson has also campaigned on expanding childcare options and improving transportation.[8]

Israel and Watson disagreed on how to spend a $250 million housing bond voters approved on November 8, 2022. Israel said the city should "partner with a nonprofit who’s going to work to take our unhoused off the streets first and put them in a dignified place."[7] Watson said, "So one of my priorities would be to work with the private industry, the private developers as they're developing their projects, bring in that public money, so we would be able to together be able to buy down those units."[7]

The winner of the 2022 election will serve a two-year term, instead of the traditional four. In 2021, Austin voters approved Proposition D, a measure that aligns mayoral elections with presidential election years. Following the 2024 election, the mayor will serve a four-year term.[9]

Austin has a Democratic mayor. As of June 2024, 63 mayors in the largest 100 cities by population are affiliated with the Democratic Party, 26 are affiliated with the Republican Party, one is affiliated with the Libertarian Party, four are independents, four identify as nonpartisan or unaffiliated, and two mayors' affiliations are unknown. While most mayoral elections in the 100 largest cities are nonpartisan, most officeholders are affiliated with a political party. Click here for a list of the 100 largest cities' mayors and their partisan affiliations.

The city of Austin utilizes a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.[10][11]

For coverage of the November 8, 2022, general election, click here.

Elections

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

Candidates and results

General runoff election

General runoff election for Mayor of Austin

Kirk Watson defeated Celia Israel in the general runoff election for Mayor of Austin on December 13, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Kirk-Watson.jpg
Kirk Watson (Nonpartisan)
 
50.4
 
57,565
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Celia_Israel.jpg
Celia Israel (Nonpartisan)
 
49.6
 
56,623

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 114,188
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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General election

General election for Mayor of Austin

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Austin on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Celia_Israel.jpg
Celia Israel (Nonpartisan)
 
40.0
 
122,377
✔
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Kirk-Watson.jpg
Kirk Watson (Nonpartisan)
 
34.9
 
106,883
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JenniferVirden.jpeg
Jennifer Virden (Nonpartisan)
 
18.4
 
56,313
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Phil_Campero_Brual.jpeg
Phil Campero Brual (Nonpartisan)
 
2.4
 
7,340
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Anthony Bradshaw (Nonpartisan)
 
2.3
 
7,137
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Gary Spellman (Nonpartisan)
 
1.9
 
5,815

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 305,865
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Additional elections on the ballot

See also: Texas elections, 2022

What's on your ballot?
Click here to find out using My Vote


January 25, 2022
March 1, 2022
May 7, 2022
May 24, 2022
November 8, 2022
December 13, 2022


Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Celia Israel

Image of Celia Israel

Facebook

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

  • Texas House of Representatives District 50 (Assumed office: 2014)

Biography:  Israel earned a degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988. Her professional experience includes serving in Texas Gov. Ann Richard's (D) administration and working as a realtor.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Israel campaigned on making housing more affordable, saying, "Housing and affordability remains our biggest challenge as a city and we cannot delay on moving forward given the urgency of the moment. In doing so, we must acknowledge the powerful interests who have embedded a culture in city government that protects the status quo."

Israel campaigned on transit and mobility and making the Interstate 35 expansion work for the city: "We must embrace a vision that moves lanes underground, caps the highway with an urban park, and creates meaningful connections between East and West Austin, and to multi-modal transit."

Israel campaigned on protecting abortion rights, saying, "while our state and federal leaders argue over what I can and cannot do with my body, as Mayor, the City is not without power or resolve. We know these rights were hard won, and we'll stand together until our freedoms are restored."

Show sources

Sources: Celia Israel 2022 campaign website, "Austin: A Home for All," accessed December 4, 2022; Texas House of Representatives, "Texas House Member Rep. Israel, Celia District 50," accessed December 4, 2022; Celia Israel 2022 campaign website, "About," accessed December 2, 2022

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Austin in 2022.

Kirk Watson

Image of Kirk Watson

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Watson earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1980 and a law degree in 1981 from Baylor University. His professional experience includes working as an attorney.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Watson campaigned on lowering the cost of housing, saying, "When it comes to housing, I believe that Austinites want to expand the availability of a full range of options without damaging the essential character of our existing neighborhoods, or putting our environment at risk."

Watson campaigned on making the city more affordable, including by "expanding affordable childcare options," letting "more tenters use security deposit insurance," and minimizing "city tax and fee increases." 

Watson campaigned on improving transportation, saying, "we need more and better roads and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure across the whole city and region, but also a major expansion of our public transit system."

Show sources

Sources: Kirk Watson 2022 campaign website, "On the Issues," accessed December 4, 2022; Kirk Watson 2022 campaign website, "Meet Kirk," accessed December 4, 2022; The University of Houston, "KIRK WATSON BIOGRAPHY," accessed December 4, 2022

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Austin in 2022.

Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.


Independent Celia Israel

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Celia Israel while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.


Independent Kirk Watson

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Kirk Watson while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.


Election competitiveness

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.


Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

Election spending

Campaign finance

Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the City of Austin. Click here to access those reports.

Election context

Mayoral partisanship

See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2022)

Twenty-four of the 100 largest U.S. cities held mayoral elections in 2022. Once mayors elected in 2022 assumed office, Democrats held 62 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 26, independents held three, and nonpartisan mayors held seven. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.

The following top 100 cities saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2022:

Election history

2022

See also: City elections in Austin, Texas (2022) and Mayoral election in Austin, Texas (2022)

The city of Austin, Texas, held regular general elections for mayor and city council on November 8, 2022. The filing deadline for this election was August 22, 2022. A general runoff election was scheduled for December 13, 2022.

The city also held a special general election for the District 4 seat on the city council on January 25, 2022. The filing deadline for this election was December 16, 2021. A general runoff election was scheduled for March 22, 2022, but it was not necessary.[13]

2020

See also: City elections in Austin, Texas (2020)

The city of Austin, Texas, held general elections for city council districts 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10 on November 3, 2020. The filing deadline for this election was August 17, 2020.

2019

See also: November 5, 2019 ballot measures in Texas

Austin voters also voted on two citywide ballot measures on November 5, 2019. Click here to read about Austin's Proposition A and Proposition B as well as other local ballot measures and statewide measures on the November 5 ballot in Texas.

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Austin, Texas (2018) and Mayoral election in Austin, Texas (2018)

The city of Austin, Texas, held general elections for mayor and city council on November 6, 2018. The deadline for candidates to file to run in this election was August 20, 2018.

2016

See also: Municipal elections in Austin, Texas (2016)

The city of Austin, Texas, held elections for city council on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was August 22, 2016. Five of the ten city council seats were up for election.[14]

2014

See also: Municipal elections in Austin, Texas (2014)

The city of Austin, Texas, held nonpartisan elections for mayor and city council on November 4, 2014. The candidate filing deadline was August 18, 2014. Delia Garza and Ann Kitchen won contested races for Districts 2 and 5 respectively. Kathie Tovo was declared the winner in District 9 after Chris Riley withdrew on November 7.[15][16]

A runoff election took place on December 16, 2014, to decide the outcome of the mayoral and remaining city council races. In that election Stephen Adler defeated Mike Martinez in the mayoral race. Ora Houston, Sabino "Pio" Renteria, Greg Casar, James T. Flannigan, Leslie Pool, Ellen Troxclair and Sheri P. Gallo won the runoffs in Districts 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 respectively.[17]

City of Austin redistricting map.
Redistricting

In conjunction with the November 2014 elections, the city of Austin implemented the "10-ONE" plan, a charter amendment approved by voters in 2012, which shifted Austin's city government from at-large representation to district-based, geographical representation. Under "10-ONE," members of the city council are elected by ten new districts instead of at-large.

The new districts can be seen on the map to the right. The "10-One" plan also expanded the size of the city council from 7 to 11 (the eleventh member is the mayor, who is still elected at large).

About the city

See also: Austin, Texas

Austin is the state capital of Texas. It is located in Travis County. As of 2020, its population was 961,855.

City government

See also: Council-manager government

Since 1924, the city of Austin has utilized a council-manager system.[18] In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.[10][19]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Austin, Texas
Austin Texas
Population 961,855 29,145,505
Land area (sq mi) 320 261,267
Race and ethnicity**
White 69.4% 69.2%
Black/African American 7.8% 12.1%
Asian 7.7% 4.9%
Native American 0.7% 0.5%
Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.1%
Two or more 6.5% 7%
Hispanic/Latino 33.3% 39.4%
Education
High school graduation rate 90.3% 84.4%
College graduation rate 53.4% 30.7%
Income
Median household income $75,752 $63,826
Persons below poverty level 12.5% 14.2%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


What was at stake?

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Candidate survey

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2022 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This election was a battleground race. Other 2022 battleground elections included:

See also

Austin, Texas Texas Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Community Impact, "Election Q&A: Meet the candidates running for Austin mayor," October 18, 2022
  2. ↑ Axios, "Five questions with Austin mayoral candidate Celia Israel," October 12, 2022
  3. ↑ Austin Monitor, "Mayoral candidate Israel shares housing platform," June 23, 2022
  4. ↑ Celia Israel 2022 campaign website, "MOBILITY," accessed December 5, 2022
  5. ↑ Axios, "Five questions with Austin mayoral candidate Kirk Watson," October 17, 2022
  6. ↑ Kirk Watson 2022 campaign website, "Housing," accessed December 5, 2022
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 KXAN, "Watch Austin mayor debate: Celia Israel, Kirk Watson discuss affordability, transportation, city’s future," December 1, 2022
  8. ↑ KXAN, "‘Very consequential’: Meet the candidates for Austin mayor," October 24, 2022
  9. ↑ KUT, "Austin’s next mayor will serve two years, not the usual four," October 19, 2022
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Office of the City Manager, "About," accessed August 19, 2014
  11. ↑ Austin City Charter V 1-3, accessed August 26, 2014
  12. ↑ Lee was elected as a Democrat and switched parties in 2021.
  13. ↑ Austintexas.gov, "CITY OF AUSTIN ELECTION CALENDAR JANUARY 25, 2022 SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL A VACANCY," accessed November 19, 2021
  14. ↑ City of Austin, "City of Austin Election Calendar," accessed February 25, 2016
  15. ↑ Travis County Clerk Election Results, accessed September 15, 2015
  16. ↑ Austin Chronicle, "Breaking: Chris Riley Withdraws From Run-off," November 7, 2014
  17. ↑ Travis County Clerk Election Results December 16, 2014, accessed September 15, 2015
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gov
  19. ↑ Austin City Charter V 1-3, accessed August 26, 2014
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