District 9 Council Seat to Be Decided November 3
Voters will choose between incumbent Zohaib Qadri and challengers Rich Heyman and Katie Kam for the city council seat.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in City Hall
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize high-density housing construction over existing neighborhood character?
District 9 voters will head to the polls on November 3 to decide the fate of incumbent City Council member Zohaib Qadri, who faces challengers Rich Heyman and Katie Kam. The race arrives as the council balances development projects like the Amazon-anchored Dog's Head zone against public debate over citywide density reforms.
Why it matters
The District 9 election reflects a broader tension in Austin between proponents of construction-heavy affordability policies and critics who believe council members prioritize corporate interests over existing neighborhood character. Residents must choose whether to continue the current council's approach to density, convention center expansion, and business incentive deals.
Incumbent Zohaib Qadri raised $11,500 during the most recent campaign finance period, bringing his total to $140,000 as he competes for the District 9 seat. The race focuses on the direction of city policy, including the 2,600-acre Dog's Head development in southeast Austin.
The players
Zohaib Qadri
The incumbent Austin City Council member seeking reelection in District 9.
Rich Heyman
A former University of Texas lecturer who is running for the District 9 seat.
Katie Kam
A former Austin city planner who is challenging the incumbent in District 9.
Austin United PAC
A political action committee that provided significant funding to groups opposing the incumbent.
The details
Council member Zohaib Qadri faces former UT lecturer Rich Heyman and former city planner Katie Kam in the upcoming election. The contest centers on recent council actions, including the approval of incentive deals for a new convention center and Southwest Airlines, as well as reforms aimed at increasing density. While supporters argue these changes combat housing costs, critics argue they favor developers and large corporations. The opposition to the incumbent has been supported by the Austin United PAC.
Timeline
Campaign finance reporting occurred from July 1 to Sept. 24.
The District 9 council election takes place on November 3, 2026.
The Texas Context
The District 9 race functions as a referendum on the City Council's aggressive density and housing reform agenda pursued over the last two years. This election tests whether voters support the current trajectory of development incentives, contrasting with previous electoral cycles that focused on narrower neighborhood-level disputes.
District 9 voters will cast their ballots on November 3 to determine who represents them on the City Council. The outcome will decide the leadership overseeing future land-use decisions and economic incentive packages in the city.
The takeaway
District 9 voters should prepare to head to the polls on November 3 to select their council representative. Keep a close watch on candidate platforms regarding the Dog's Head development and future housing density rules to see how they align with your vision for the district.
Further reading
You can find more coverage of local governance and upcoming elections in City Hall.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize high-density housing construction over existing neighborhood character?
