Kirk Watson

Mayor Watson was first elected mayor of Austin in 1997, where he won praise for bringing different political sides together around transformative environmental and economic development initiatives. Watson returned to Austin City Hall in 2023 for a third term as mayor after serving more than 13 years in the Texas Senate, where he led on issues such as public education, healthcare, government transparency, and the creation of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Watson has been laser-focused on making sure every Austinite has the opportunity to succeed. He has led on the enactment of historic land-use reforms and the creation of the Austin Infrastructure Academy. His priorities include housing, workforce development, homelessness, mobility, and climate resilience.