On Election Day, there were 17 mayoral elections across the nation's 100 largest cities1 1Population rankings are based on July 1, 2021 Census Bureau population estimates. They are for the city itself, not the associated metropolitan area., including three in Texas. In two of those - Austin and Laredo - no candidate received a majority of the vote, requiring a top two runoff election.
The Austin runoff is today; Laredo follows on Saturday. Both elections are officially nonpartisan, although we do note party affiliations where known. Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
Austin
Rank | Population | Mayor | Term | Status |
11 | 964,177 | Steve Adler (D) | 2 | Term-limited |
State Rep. Celia Israel (42% of the vote) and former State Sen. Kirk Watson (36%) advanced from the five-candidate field. Both are Democrats; Watson previously served as the city's mayor from 1997 to 2001.
Affordable housing seems to be the driving issue in this race.