Six Candidates Compete for District 1 Council Seat
The race to replace term-limited Natasha Harper-Madison comes as voters weigh the city's $6.6 billion budget.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in City Hall
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Six candidates are vying to represent East Austin on the City Council as incumbent Natasha Harper-Madison prepares to step down due to term limits. The race highlights growing voter concern over the city's financial trajectory as the candidates campaign to replace her.
Why it matters
The outcome will shape how the city manages a $6.6 billion budget and addresses mounting financial pressures, including pension debt. Candidates are split on how to prioritize spending as the city prepares to borrow an additional $32 million this year.
The city carries $3.1 billion in borrowed pension funds, an obligation that adds roughly $450 in interest costs to each local household annually. While $279 million has been directed toward consulting contracts, the city is set to borrow an additional $32 million this year.
The players
Amber Goodwin
She is a candidate for the District 1 seat who currently serves as a Travis County assistant district attorney.
Michael Nahas
He is a candidate for the District 1 seat and the former chair of the Economic Prosperity Commission.
Natasha Harper-Madison
She is the outgoing City Council member for District 1, departing the seat due to term limits.
The details
The candidates for the District 1 seat include Alexandria Anderson, Steven Brown, Amber Goodwin, Michael Nahas, Misael Ramos, and Portia Riggins. As the city navigates its $6.6 billion budget, participants are defining their stances on fiscal policy and the allocation of taxpayer resources. Goodwin, an assistant district attorney for Travis County, and Nahas, a former Economic Prosperity Commission chair, are among those offering competing visions for the seat.
Timeline
The District 1 midterm election is ongoing as of October 2026.
The Texas Context
This election follows the established 10-1 council system, which dictates district-specific representation for the city. It represents a routine, though high-stakes, turnover within the framework that governs all Austin City Council seats.
District 1 voters will decide who oversees the city's financial strategies and pension debt management starting in the next term. Residents can anticipate that the winning candidate will have direct input on the future of the city's $6.6 billion annual budget.
The takeaway
District 1 residents should watch how the candidates plan to manage the city's debt and current consulting expenditures. Voters should review campaign platforms to see how each candidate proposes to balance the $6.6 billion budget for the coming cycle.
Further reading
For more on the current legislative agenda and upcoming elections, visit the City Hall section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KEYE.
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