# 2022 Austin mayoral election

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vte :
The 2022 Austin mayoral election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the next mayor of Austin, Texas. The election was nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations did not appear on the ballot. Incumbent mayor Steve Adler was term-limited and could not run for re-election. In the general election, state representative Celia Israel and former mayor Kirk Watson took the first two spots, leading realtor Jennifer Virden and several other candidates. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the race proceeded to a runoff election between Israel and Watson on December 13, which Watson won by 924 votes.
Due to the passage of Proposition D in 2021, which scheduled mayoral elections in Austin to coincide with presidential elections, the winner of this election served a shortened two-year term.
The election occurred concurrently with district city council races.

## Background

Though the election was officially nonpartisan, the runoff candidates, Celia Israel and Kirk Watson, were both affiliated with the Democratic Party. Jennifer Virden, who was third place, had a reputation of being conservative.
Steven Pedigo, director of UT's LBJ Urban Lab, indicated that Watson's support was centralized with longtime residences of Austin in areas like the Northwest, and Israel's support was with younger demographics in growing and gentrifying areas of South and East Austin. According to Axios, Watson likely benefitted by the absence of Beto O'Rourke, who drew out younger and more progressive voters, from appearing on the runoff ballot. Furthermore, voters who supported more conservative Virden were more inclined to opt for Watson in the runoff.

## Candidates
### Declared

* Craig Blanchard, business owner (party affiliation: Democratic)
* Anthony Bradshaw, security guard
* Phil Campero Brual, Legislative intern and University of Texas at Austin government student
* Celia Israel, state representative from the 50th district (party affiliation: Democratic)
* Gary Spellman, business owner
* Jennifer Virden, business owner and realtor
* Kirk Watson, former president pro tempore of the Texas Senate from the 14th district and former mayor (party affiliation: Democratic)

### Withdrew

* Erica Nix, fitness instructor, performance artist, and LGBT activist (endorsed Israel)

### Declined

* Greg Casar, city councilor (ran for U.S. House)
* Adam Loewy, attorney
* Kathie Tovo, city councilor

## Endorsements

U.S. Representatives
* Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative from TX-20
State legislators
* Vikki Goodwin, state representative from the 47th district
* Donna Howard, state representative from the 48th district
* John Bucy, state representative from the 136th district
* Lulu Flores, state representative-elect from the 51st district
Local officials
* Dana Debeauvoir, former Travis County Clerk
* Delia Garza, Travis County Attorney
* Natasha Harper-Madison Austin City Councillor, District 1
* Vanessa Fuentes, Austin City Councillor, District 2
* José "Chito" Vela, Austin City Councillor, District 4
* Jimmy Flannigan, former Austin City Councillor, District 6
* Chris Riley, former Austin City Councillor, At-Large
Organizations
* AURA: An Austin for Everyone
* Circle C Democrats
* EMILY's List
* Jolt Action
* Latino Victory Fund
* LGBTQ Victory Fund
* LPAC
* Northeast Travis County Democrats
* Stonewall Democrats of Austin
* Texas College Democrats
* University Democrats
* Williamson County Democrats
Newspapers
* Austin-American Statesman
* The Austin Chronicle
* Hyde Parker Magazine
State legislators
* Sheryl Cole, state Representative from the 46th district
* Wendy Davis, former state Senator from the 10th district and 2014 Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas
Local officials
* Andy Brown, Travis County Judge
* Jeff Travillion, Travis County Commissioner
* Brigid Shea, Travis County Commissioner
* Ann Howard, Travis County Commissioner
* Sally Hernandez, Travis County Sheriff
* Pio Renteria, Austin City Councillor, District 3
* Ann Kitchen, Austin City Councillor, District 5
* Leslie Pool, Austin City Councillor, District 7
* Alison Alter, Austin City Councillor, District 10
Labor Unions
* AFSCME, Local 1624
* Austin Central Labor Council
* Austin EMS Association
* Austin Firefighter's Association
* Workers Defense Action Fund
Organizations
* Austin Board of Realtors
* Black Austin Democrats
* Central Austin Democrats
* Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA)
Municipal officials
* Lee Leffingwell, former mayor of Austin (2009–2015)
* Ron Mullen, former mayor of Austin (1983–1985)
* Steve Adler, mayor of Austin

## Results

2022 Austin mayoral general election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Celia Israel | Celia Israel | 121,862 | 39.99% |
| Kirk Watson | Kirk Watson | 106,508 | 34.95% |
| Jennifer Virden | Jennifer Virden | 56,189 | 18.44% |
| Phil Campero Brual | Phil Campero Brual | 7,295 | 2.39% |
| Anthony Bradshaw | Anthony Bradshaw | 7,102 | 2.33% |
| Gary Spellman | Gary Spellman | 5,781 | 1.90% |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | % | % |
2022 Austin mayoral runoff :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Kirk Watson | Kirk Watson | 57,565 | 50.4% |
| Celia Israel | Celia Israel | 56,623 | 49.6% |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | % | % |