ANALYSIS: 2021 Local Elections Yields Mixed results for Travis County conservatives

The passage of Austin's Proposition B -- the homeless camping policy reversal -- took the spotlight of the May 2021 local elections in Travis County and was a victorious moment for conservative activists and a much wider coalition firmly behind it. 

Democrats, Republicans, and independents came together (an estimated 55% of those who voted were Democrats), but it was a conservative solution that reached across the aisle to turn back a dangerous policy, though ultimately the Travis County GOP was supportive (with Chairman Matt Mackowiak as a co-founder of a supportive PAC) and the established leadership of the Travis County Democratic Party were in firm opposition.

The increased bipartisan turnout may have sunk some conservative aspirants across the county, however -- though it's difficult to determine exactly what factors led to some surprising defeats of conservative-friendly and Republican candidates and positions around the Austin metro area.

We take a look at how conservative candidates and positions performed on election night over the weekend, starting with one that was just determined today in the Pflugerville ISD. Candidates and positions endorsed by The Travis Tracker are followed with an asterisk.

✅ = Overall conservative victory
❌ = Overall conservative defeat
⛖ = Mixed results

✅ PFLUGERVILLE ISD

Separated by a mere two votes on election night, the PfISD Place 1 race was the squeaker race election night, with mail-in and provisional ballots yet to be counted. Travis and Williamson County ballot boards met today. At the time of writing, and according to observers, David Aguirre* gained additional votes in the final unofficial count, putting him 3 votes ahead of Marc Garcia and is therefore the projected winner. (The count is not official until canvassing, however.)

In Place 2, incumbent Tony Hanson* was unopposed.

⛖ CITY OF AUSTIN

Prop A*, fire union arbitration - The Tracker issued a cautious endorsement here, which passed by the highest margin with 81% of the vote in Travis County. 

Prop B*, the homeless camping ban  - The Tracker was unapologetically for, and it passed by 58% city-wide.

Prop C, transfer of police oversight powers to Council, passed 63-37% in the county. The Tracker was opposed.

Prop D, aligning the mayoral election with presidential election years, passed 67-33% in the county. The Tracker was opposed.

Prop E, ranked-choice voting, passed 59-41% in the county, though it is currently not in line with state election law. The Tracker was opposed.

Prop F, the strong mayor proposal, failed by one of the biggest margins of the election, 86-14% in the county. The Tracker was opposed, as apparently were an overwhelming number of voters.

Prop G, 11th Council district creation, passed 57-43% in the county. The Tracker was opposed, and without the passage of Proposition F this might create a bit of a conundrum.

Prop H, $25 vouchers for voters to direct toward candidates, failed 43-57% based on in-county results. The Tracker was opposed.

⛖ CITY OF BEE CAVE

Andrew Clark* was the top vote-getter, followed by Kevin Hight and Andrea Willott, each with around 23%. Tracker endorsees Joann Taylor and Andrew Rebber did not make the top 3 and will not take seats on the city council.

❌ 

CEDAR PARK

A trio of conservative candidates, Dorian Chavez* (a sitting Council member who ran for Place 1), Claudia Chavez*, and Collin Klein* were defeated by candidates endorsed by city leadership and progressive activist groups.

⛖ LAKEWAY

Tracker-endorsed Sanjeev Kumar and Gretchen Vance take their seats on the Council, in addition to Keith Trecker. Tracker-endorsed Kelly Brynteson* did not make the top 3 and will not join the Council.

⛖ LEANDER

Place 2 goes to a runoff between conservative Mike Sanders* and progressive Esmeralda Traube.

In Place 4, Donnie Mahan* enters a runoff with Nacole Thompson, as a withdrawn candidate appeared on the ballot.

In Place 6, Becki Ross defeated Tracker-endorsed incumbent Marci Cannon* 51-49%.

Incumbent Mayor Troy Hill* lost his bid for re-election to Christine Sederquist. While Sederquist is an active Republican and often a fiscal conservative vote on the Council, her social stances are often liberal. Hill is the incumbent mayor at the helm of a conservative and pro-liberty resurgence in the area, and earned The Tracker's endorsement. 

✅ ROUND ROCK

Place 3 incumbent Matt Baker* wins his seat, as does Kristin Stevens* in Place 5.

✅ HAYS CONSOLIDATED ISD

Tracker-endorsed Will McManus* won by a large lead over the field for the at-large seat. 

⛖ DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD

Stefani Reinold,* Mary Jane Hetrick,* and Shannon O'Connor win in the nine-candidate race for the board of trustees. Tracker-endorsed Lynn Henson,* Stephanie Holtzendorf,* and Jeffrey Aylstock* did not make the top 3 and will not take seats on the board.  

❌

 

EANES ISD

A high-stakes race fueled by outrage over socially liberal curriculum options and record-setting campaign donations saw the election of James Spradley to Place 4 and Jennifer Champagne to Place 5. Tracker endorsees Nigel Stout* and Jen Stevens,* respectively, ran spirited campaigns but could not overcome the differential, each obtaining around 45-46% of the vote.

❌ 

LAKE TRAVIS ISD

Phillip Davis takes the Place 1 seat, overcoming Tracker-endorsed Todd Taylor* and Spike McBride 48-35-17%.

❌ 

TRAVIS COUNTY ESD No. 17

Voters approved the creation of the district by around 75%. The Tracker opposed this proposition with the understanding that the creation of this emergency services special district would gut the ambulance services currently provided by Pflugerville ESD No. 2. Notable local Republicans were opposed, though Pflugerville fire officials are jubilant.

UPDATE: Pflugerville ISD Trustee Place 1 candidate David Aguirre is ahead by three votes according to ballot board observers. We previously reported five, then seven. We regret the hearsay, but were eager to start the weekend!