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Live Blog: Austin Voters Decide Transportation Bond, Council Races

Audrey McGlinchy
/
KUT
Mayor Steve Adler at the Lavaca Street Bar on Election Night.

Austin voters in five of the city’s 10 districts have decided who will represent them on the city council. This includes districts 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10 – Southeast and most of North Austin. Austinites will also the fate of the $720 million transportation bond. 

10:44 p.m. – In District 7, Council Member Leslie Pool holds a 73 percent lead over challenger Natalie Gauldin, who's garnered 27 percent of the vote with 48 percent of Election Day votes counted.

In District 2, Delia Garza has a 65 percent lead over challengers Wesley Faulkner, who has 15 percent of the vote, and Casey Ramos, who has nearly 19 percent. And, in District 4, incumbent Council Member Greg Casar has 62 percent of the vote, Gonzalo Camacho garnered nearly 22 percent of the vote and Louis Herrin III has 15.7 percent of the vote.

With nearly half of Election Night votes counted, Sheri Gallo holds steady at just over 48 percent of the vote in District 10, just short of an outright win over her three challengers, Alison Alter, Rob Walker and Nicholas Virden, who garnered 35.5 percent, 14 percent and 2 percent of the vote, respectively. As of right now, it's unclear whether that race will be headed to a runoff.  

8:59 p.m. – Mayor Steve Adler told KUT the city is "ready to start addressing mobility challenges" after the transportation bond garnered nearly 60 percent of the vote in early voting totals. 

8:26 p.m. – Council Member told KUT's Kate Groetzinger he's "overjoyed" with the results so far, and said it's "nearly impossible" to overcome the 58 percent gap between the two candidates. 

8:14 p.m. – It seems incumbent Council Member Don Zimmerman is leaning towards concession in the race for District 6 against challenger Jimmy Flannigan.

"It looks to me like it's probably over," Zimmerman told KUT's Kate Groetzinger at his election watch party. Listen to audio below.

7:18 p.m. – The early Travis County returns were posted for the City of Austin election give us a glimpse at how the $720 million transportation bond fared, $482 million of which will  go towards seven corridor plans for streets such as North Lamar Boulevard and East Riverside Drive. The remainder of the money will fund sidewalk and bike infrastructure, in addition to regional roads such as Anderson Mill Road and Loop 360.

 
With 247,310 votes counted in the Proposition 1 race, those voting in favor were in the majority with 59.83 percent of the vote. 40.17 percent voted against.

Only 11,092 votes have been cast in District 2, where incumbent Delia Garza has a decisive lead with 66.57 percent of the vote. Casey Ramos has won 18.38 percent of votes cast, and Wesley Faulkner is currently in third with 15.05 percent.
 
In District 4, incumbent Greg Casar has 64.64 percent of the 9,259 votes cast. Gonzalo Camacho has 20.01 percent and Louis C. Herrin, III has 15.35 percent at the moment.
 
Challenger Jimmy Flannigan is in the lead in District 6, with 57.65 percent of the vote. Incumbent Don Zimmerman has 42.35 percent of the 21,755 votes cast.
 
In District 7, 24,136 votes had been cast, with incumbent Leslie Pool winning a clear majority of the vote. 

  • Pool currently has 73.09 percent of the vote 
  • Challenger Natalie Gauldin has 26.91 percent.

In the District 10 race, 30,212 votes had been cast.

  • Sheri Gallo led early returns in a four-way race with 47.95 percent of the vote.
  • Alison Alter garnered 36.78 percent.
  • Rob Walker won 13.30 percent 
  • Nicholas Virden won 1.97 percent 

 

Audrey McGlinchy is KUT's housing reporter. She focuses on affordable housing solutions, renters’ rights and the battles over zoning. Got a tip? Email her at audrey@kut.org. Follow her on Twitter @AKMcGlinchy.
Andrew Weber is a general assignment reporter for KUT, focusing on criminal justice, policing, courts and homelessness in Austin and Travis County. Got a tip? You can email him at aweber@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @England_Weber.