Central Texas Local Races Head to Runoff Elections on Dec. 13

UPDATE: Just confirmed! A number of local races across Central Texas are heading to runoff elections on December 13, 2023, after no single candidate secured the required majority. With the stakes high in these critical contests, voters are gearing up for another round of decision-making.

In several municipalities, candidates must achieve more than 50% of the vote to win outright. If that threshold isn’t met, the top two candidates will face off in a runoff. Here’s a breakdown of the six key races advancing to this pivotal stage.

Buda City Council District C: Candidates Kimberly Goodman and Jeffrey Morales will compete in the runoff after each garnered around 43% of the vote. Goodman was just 75 votes shy of the majority needed to win outright, while Morales stands ready to challenge her.

Kyle Mayor: The race narrows to Robert Rizo and Yvonne Flores-Cale, with Rizo receiving 42% and Flores-Cale 32%. Rizo missed the outright victory by 422 votes and is set to rally his supporters for the runoff.

Kyle City Council District 1: Incumbent Bear Heiser goes head-to-head with challenger Courtney Goza. Heiser obtained about 40% of the votes, falling 546 votes short of the majority. This race is pivotal for Kyle residents as they weigh experience against change.

Leander City Council Place 3: Natomi Blair and Anna Yelaun are set for a runoff. Blair received approximately 47% of the vote, while Yelaun followed closely with 40%. Blair was just 200 votes shy of surpassing the threshold.

Pflugerville Mayor: The race between Doug Weiss and Pat McCord will also go to a runoff, with Weiss capturing 47% and McCord at 35%. Weiss missed the outright win by 246 votes and will need to mobilize voters for the final push.

San Marcos City Council Place 2: Josh Paselk and incumbent Saul Gonzales will face off in the runoff, with Paselk securing 35% of the vote and Gonzales at 27%. Paselk was 1,107 votes away from a majority, making this an essential decision for San Marcos residents.

With all eyes on these crucial races, voters are expected to return to the polls on December 13 to make their voices heard once again. Stay tuned for updates as candidates ramp up their campaigns in the lead-up to the runoff elections.

For complete election results from across Central Texas, click here.