Austin Voters Pick Council in Five Districts
Polls close Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with about half the city choosing a council member.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you think housing in your Austin area has become more affordable over the past few years?
Austin voters are heading to the polls to pick City Council members for Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9, with about half the city choosing a council member. In District 5, Council Member Ryan Alter is seeking reelection against three challengers.
Why it matters
Council members set the local rules that shape rent, traffic, parks and public safety across the city, so the winners will have a direct say in those choices. The District 5 race, which covers South Austin between MoPac and Interstate 35 along the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, will determine whether the incumbent keeps his seat.
Five council districts are on the ballot, and about half of Austin voters are choosing a council member in this cycle. Austin's housing prices sit about 2 percent below the national average, and the cost of living has dropped since 2022, though the source does not say how those figures will shift after the election.
The players
Ryan Alter
Alter is the incumbent Austin City Council member for District 5 and is seeking reelection against three challengers.
Farrah Abraham
Abraham gained national name recognition from MTV's reality series "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom" beginning in 2009, and is among the District 5 candidates.
Liz Brink
Brink is an electrician and is among the District 5 candidates.
The details
Voters are casting ballots at polls across the city on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for council seats in Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9. In District 5, incumbent Ryan Alter is running against three challengers, and the district stretches through South Austin between MoPac and Interstate 35. The source does not detail the next steps in the certification or runoff process.
Timeline
2022: The cost of living in Austin began to drop after the housing boom.
Four years ago: Alter first ran for the District 5 council seat.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Austin City Council election day, with high turnout expected.
The Texas Context
The election comes after the cost of living in Austin began to fall in 2022, following the housing boom. Austin's housing prices now sit about 2 percent below the national average, which sets the affordability backdrop for the council races.
If you live in one of the five districts on the ballot, your council member will shape local decisions for the next term, so check your polling location before Tuesday. In District 5, South Austin voters will decide whether Alter returns for another term.
The takeaway
The result of this council race will shape local rules for years, so the most useful step is to know which district you live in and where you vote. Watch the results posted after polls close on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to see how your district decides.
Further reading
For the broader picture, browse our Elections coverage across the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KEYE.
Live Poll
Do you think housing in your Austin area has become more affordable over the past few years?
