AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is running for re-election.
Watson officially announced his re-election campaign on Wednesday, April 10.
Watson has been serving his current term since the start of last year. If he is re-elected on Nov. 5, he will continue to serve as Austin's mayor until 2029.
In his campaign announcement, Watson said that since starting his role in 2023, he has helped the city by adding housing reforms, filling empty positions within the Austin Police Department, launching the Austin Infrastructure Academy and working to help the city's homelessness concerns.
"When I became mayor 15 months ago, it was widely understood that City Hall was failing to deliver on some of our community's basic needs," Watson said. "Today, I think it's widely understood that things have changed for the better and we've reset how the city does business."
If Watson is re-elected, he said he wants to make climate change response more of a priority, in part by closing down part of Austin Energy's Fayette Power Plant.
"Climate change is our planet's biggest existential threat," Watson said. "Which means I think Austin has a moral responsibility to get out of the coal business."
Watson already has some challengers in this year's mayoral race. Three others have announced campaigns: former city council member and Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, community organizer Carmen Llanes Pulido and interfaith organizer Doug Greco.
All candidates can officially file in July to run for office.
Watson's career history
In 1997, Watson was elected to his first term as Austin's mayor. He was reelected twice, serving in the role until 2001.
Watson was elected to the Texas Senate in 2006 and served as a state senator for 13 years.
In the November 2022 general election, Watson advanced to a runoff election against former State Rep. Celia Israel in the Austin mayoral race. Watson won the runoff in December 2022 and was sworn in as mayor of Austin for a second time on Jan. 6, 2023.