Honestly, if you missed the drama of the Austin mayor race 2024, you missed one of the wildest political finishes in Texas history. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statistical miracle. Imagine a city of nearly a million people being decided by the number of folks who can fit around a large dining room table.
Thirteen votes. That is basically the margin that kept Kirk Watson in the mayor’s office and avoided a messy, expensive December runoff. For a week after the November 5th election, nobody knew for sure who was actually going to be running the show at City Hall. The incumbent, Kirk Watson, was sitting right on the edge of the 50% plus one vote requirement.
He needed to hit that mark to win outright.
He did it by 0.0041%.
The Wild Numbers of the Austin Mayor Race 2024
When the dust finally settled on November 15, the final tally showed Watson with 175,096 votes. His closest challenger, Carmen Llanes Pulido, pulled in 70,550. On paper, that looks like a blowout—a margin of over 104,000 votes. But in Austin, if you don't get more than half the total, you go to a runoff.
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Watson ended up with 50.0041%. If 14 people had changed their minds or stayed home, the entire city would have been heading back to the polls in December.
Who Else Was on the Ballot?
It wasn't just a two-person fight. The field was crowded, which is exactly why the 50% threshold was so hard to hit.
- Carmen Llanes Pulido: A community organizer and former Planning Commissioner who snagged 20.14% of the vote. She was the primary voice for those feeling left behind by rapid development.
- Kathie Tovo: The former Council Member took 16.64%. She had a deep well of experience but struggled to break out of the third-place spot.
- Jeffrey Bowen: He focused on land use and basic services, ending up with 8.39%.
- Doug Greco: A nonprofit executive who finished with 4.82%.
Llanes Pulido didn’t go quietly. She initially refused to concede, pointing out that with such a razor-thin margin, every provisional and mail-in ballot from Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties mattered. She even pushed for a recount in specific precincts in Williamson County, but Texas law is pretty strict—you usually have to recount the whole jurisdiction, not just the parts where you think the math looks fuzzy. Eventually, on November 22, she conceded, acknowledging that the 13-vote lead was likely to hold.
Why This Election Felt Different
This was the first time Austin held a mayoral election during a presidential year. In 2021, voters passed Proposition D to move these races to coincide with the big ones. The goal? Boost turnout. It worked, sort of. While turnout was high, it was actually a bit lower than the 2020 peak, with about 63% of registered voters in Travis County showing up compared to 71% four years prior.
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Because of this shift, Watson’s previous term was only two years long. He’s now secured a full four-year term, which gives him a lot more runway to push through his agenda.
Watson had the money. He raised over $1 million—more than double all his opponents combined. In politics, cash usually buys the airwaves, and Watson used it to position himself as the "steady hand" who could actually get things done with the police union and the state legislature. But money can't buy a landslide, apparently. The fact that he barely squeaked by suggests a massive divide in how Austinites feel about the direction of the city.
The Issues That Almost Forced a Runoff
People are stressed in Austin. You've probably felt it if you've tried to pay rent or buy a house lately. Affordability was the heartbeat of the Austin mayor race 2024. Watson’s supporters cheered for his "HOME" initiative—land use reforms designed to allow more types of housing on single-family lots. Critics, like Llanes Pulido and Tovo, argued these changes were moving too fast and threatened the character of existing neighborhoods without guaranteed affordability.
Then there’s the police. Watson helped secure a five-year, $218 million contract with the Austin Police Association. For some, it was a necessary step to fix staffing shortages. For others, it was a move that lacked enough civilian oversight.
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- Public Safety: The partnership with DPS (Department of Public Safety) to have state troopers patrol city streets was a huge point of contention.
- Homelessness: Everyone agrees the system was broken. Watson pointed to the expansion of temporary shelters as progress. His opponents called for more "deeply affordable" permanent housing.
- Infrastructure: Between the I-35 expansion and Project Connect (the light rail plan), the city is basically one giant construction zone. Voters are tired of the orange cones but desperate for better transit.
What Happens Now?
With Watson locked in until 2028, he doesn't have to worry about the immediate political pressure of a runoff. He’s already signaled that his focus remains on "workforce development" and "climate resilience." But he’s leading a city where nearly half the voters wanted someone else.
The council he’s working with still has a pro-housing majority, but the close nature of this race might make some members think twice before pushing through more controversial zoning changes.
If you want to stay involved in how these 13 votes change your daily life, the best thing to do is keep an eye on the City Council's "work sessions." Most people only watch the regular meetings, but the work sessions are where the real deals are hammered out. You can also sign up for the city's "Austin Notes" email alerts to get notified when there are public hearings on zoning in your specific neighborhood.
Actionable Next Steps for Austin Residents
- Check Your District: Half of the City Council seats were also up in 2024. Make sure you know who your specific representative is, as they often hold more sway over local park and road projects than the mayor does.
- Sign Up for Community Registry: If you want a say in development, join the Community Registry on the city’s website. It ensures you get formal notice when developers want to change the rules near your home.
- Watch the Budget: The city budget is usually finalized in August. That’s the real "voting day" for where your tax dollars go regarding police, parks, and libraries.
The 2024 race proved that in a city of over a million people, your single vote actually does matter. Just ask the 13 people who decided the future of Austin.