Zo Qadri Wins Second Term on Austin City Council District 9

Zo Qadri Wins Second Term on Austin City Council District 9

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Zo Qadri secured a second term representing Austin City Council District 9 on Tuesday, capturing 51.38% of the vote and sidestepping a December runoff against four challengers, according to final but unofficial returns from Travis County, KUT reported.

The win cements Qadri’s hold on one of Austin’s most politically consequential districts—a swath of Central Austin that includes downtown, the University of Texas campus, and the Texas Capitol—and suggests the electoral coalition he built four years ago has held firm despite credible challenges from opponents who hammered the city’s affordability crisis.

A Decisive Margin in a Crowded Field

Qadri finished well ahead of his nearest rival, Rich Heyman, who took 24.74% of the vote. Katie Kam garnered 17.5%, while Kai Huang and Dave Thadani received 4.48% and 1.9%, respectively. Because Qadri crossed the 50% threshold, the race will not proceed to the Dec. 12 runoff that awaits candidates in Districts 1, 3, and 5.

Ballot 2026 | City Council | Zo Qadri D9

When early-voting totals posted Tuesday evening, Qadri addressed a raucous crowd at a downtown bar, telling supporters that voters were responding to what he described as a positive message. “What tonight has shown us both in the country, in Texas, in Travis County and in Austin is folks like believing something and not being against something,” he said, according to the Austin American-Statesman. At the time, he stopped short of declaring victory but called himself “optimistic” about his early lead.

In a written statement released after the final unofficial tallies, Qadri struck a conciliatory tone. “We’ve taken on powerful interests, stood up for renters and working families, and made real progress toward a more affordable Austin,” he said. “This was a close election, and I don’t take a single vote for granted. Whether you voted for me or not, I’m going to keep fighting to make City Hall work for you.”

Zo Qadri Wins Second Term on Austin City Council District 9
Photo: yahoo.com

Affordability and Development at the Center of the Race

All five candidates spent the final months of the campaign focused on housing costs in one of the city’s most expensive areas, proposing various fixes for rent and home prices. Qadri, first elected in 2022, pointed to his record on initiatives like HOME—which allowed denser construction on single-family lots—as evidence of progress, but argued the work remains unfinished.

“We have a land development code that hasn’t been fully updated since 1984, so we need to continue to work on housing and parking reforms,” Qadri told KUT. His opponents, including Heyman and Kam, questioned how the city balances new development with neighborhood concerns and residents’ needs, a tension that defined the race’s closing weeks.

David Thomason, director of the Kozmetsky Center for Civic Engagement at St. Edward’s University, said Qadri’s showing spoke to his ability to connect with voters.

“It says volumes about his ability to speak to his constituents and to home his message in tightly enough for voters to recognize he should be elevated above the crowded field and given another term,” Thomason told the American-Statesman.

Money and Momentum

Heading into the final eight days of the campaign, Qadri spent far more than either of his top challengers but still maintained the largest cash reserve, with roughly $32,000 on hand, according to campaign finance reports cited by the American-Statesman and Yahoo News. Heyman raised the most money of any opponent, bringing in nearly $13,000 and retaining about $29,500. Kam reported approximately $8,000 in contributions with roughly $2,000 remaining after expenses.

Several Austin City Council races heading to runoffs

Heyman, who finished second, did not respond to requests for comment from the American-Statesman.

What Comes Next for Austin’s Council

Qadri’s victory means he will return to the dais alongside Selena Xie, who also won outright Tuesday to represent District 8. The two were the only candidates among five council seats up for election to secure outright victories. Races for Districts 1, 3, and 5 will head to a runoff on Dec. 12.

Qadri’s new four-year term begins in January, when he will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony in early January. Until then, the Travis County results remain unofficial pending a canvass to confirm the vote tallies in the days following the election.

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