Every Dallas City Council incumbent appeared to be avoiding a runoff, according to unofficial election results at about midnight
The Dallas County elections office reported that the ballots for about three-quarters of the county’s polls had been counted at midnight. About 4.8% of Dallas County’s 1.4 million ed voters cast ballots early ahead of Saturday’s election, with all 14 council districts on the ballot. District 14 council member Paul Ridley is the only incumbent who did not draw a challenger.
Four seats — Districts 4, 6, 8 — are open because council Carolyn King Arnold, Tennell Atkins and Omar Narvaez have reached their term limits and District 11 council member Jaynie Schultz opted not to run for reelection.
Here are the results by district:
District 1
Chad West was leading by around 20 percentage points in the race to represent North Oak Cliff on the Dallas City Council.
West, the incumbent, is vying for his fourth and final term. His challengers are Katrina Whatley, a real estate agent who has lived in the neighborhood for two decades, and Jason Vanhof, a small business owner with a background in IT, hospitality and real estate.
Unofficial voting totals showed West with about 59% , followed by Whatley with about 39%. Vanhof had about 2%.
West did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Saturday. His Facebook featured reposted photos of people congratulating him for a win.
Whatley thanked voters in a Facebook post and wrote: “ this. If you see something, say something. It’s been an honor and a privilege to add my voice to all of yours. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” She attached a photo of an apartment building towering next to a home, with her name lit over the multifamily complex.
Neighborhood zoning and gentrification were central topics in the race to represent the district, which includes some of Oak Cliff’s oldest and most diverse neighborhoods.
West, a car wash business owner and former city plan commissioner, chaired the council’s government performance and financial management committee. Housing and development have been focal points in his three City Council .
He said the district’s greatest challenge is skyrocketing housing costs. He wants to create standards for approving zoning changes, and has advocated for reforming city parking standards and improving sidewalks and bike lanes.
He raised more money than any of the more than 40 City Council contenders this election, and had the backing of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas, MetroTex Association of Realtors and the Dallas Builders Association.
He also initiated the West Oak Cliff Area Plan — which Whatley has taken aim at, and argued there’s a need for more communication between city leadership and residents.
Whatley, a first-time candidate, wanted to run after a five-story apartment building was built three feet from her family home. To make housing more affordable, she suggested expanding equity strategy target areas and property tax relief programs for first-time homebuyers, and increasing outreach for quality credit repair programs.
Both Whatley and Vanhof vouched for a more community-focused approach to development. Whatley has served on the Dallas Historic Commission Task Force and was a former City Council appointee to the Reinvestment Zone Fifteen Board, which helps create residential and mixed-use developments in the Fort Worth Avenue area.
District 2
Dallas City Council member Jesse Moreno had a significant lead over his sole challenger in the race for District 2.
Moreno earned about 90% of the votes, according to unofficial totals. Challenger Sukhbir Kaur, who works in the travel industry and first ran against Moreno in 2023, got 10% of the votes.
The race is a rematch between Moreno and Kaur. In 2023, Moreno won nearly 85% of the roughly 2,200 votes cast in the last faceoff.
“Today, District 2 voters made their voices heard — reaffirming their confidence in our progress and choosing to continue the work we’ve started together,” Moreno said in a statement shortly after 7 p.m.
Moreno, who was first elected in 2021, raised nearly $108,000 for his campaign, while Kaur reported $200 in contributions, according to finance reports through April 23.
The district includes the Medical District, Deep Ellum, the Cedars, East Dallas and parts of downtown. Housing affordability and development — like the revamp of the downtown Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center — remain among the top issues for District 2’s more than 107,000 residents.
Moreno, a restaurant owner and former Park and Recreation Board member, chairs the council’s Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee. He has championed public safety, housing affordability and improving roads during his tenure.
Kaur’s campaign focused on pushing for transparency and ability at City Hall. She’s taken issue with the city’s approach to homelessness and argued for greater oversight of public spending. Her platform also included upgrading neighborhood parks and ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act across the district.
District 3
Dallas City Council member Zarin Gracey took an early lead in his bid for a second term on Saturday with nearly 54% of the votes, according to unofficial results.
Gracey has earned a reputation for being present for residents in District 3 by driving through neighborhoods in the southwestern part of the city and knocking on doors to hear their concerns and vision for the future.
He said he has laid groundwork to bring more affordable housing and economic opportunities to the district while maintaining quality of life and is ready to see that plan through in his next term.
“I’m grateful,” Gracey said by phone from a watch party at the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce.
But on election night, his focus was on earning trust of residents who did not vote for him.
“The early voting results are great, but my heart breaks for the 45% that didn’t vote for me. That’s a sincere thing because I know there was a lot of areas where I can improve ... those types of things can be fixed, but we’ve made great progress in the community and I’m grateful they gave me another opportunity.”
The incumbent was challenged by engineer John Sims, who first ran against him for the seat in 2023, and Jesseca Lightbourne, an assistant professor of public leadership at the University of North Texas at Dallas.
The incumbent raised $18,632 through April while Sims raised no money and Lightbourne raised $3,369, according to campaign finance reports.
Before his election in 2023, Gracey worked for the city for 16 years in various offices, including budget and finance.
In his first term, he advocated for the installation of 24 license plate readers to increase neighborhood security, the closure of a biofuel plant that disturbed residents with an oppressive smell and the removal of eyesores around the area.
The district includes multiple green spaces but is also a center of strategic development planning.
Although Dallas originally intended to turn a 12-acre former hospital site on South Hampton Road into a homeless services facility, Gracey pushed his colleagues to solicit bids to build affordable housing on the site and homeless services where they are more needed.
He is also advocating for the city to remediate and redevelop a former U.S. Naval Air Station to bring housing, industry and retail to the 738-acre site.
“We have a sure understanding of what our quality of life, our non-negotiables are, so now that we know what those are, we don’t have to say no to every single economic development opportunity,” Gracey said in a previous interview. “We’re moving in that right direction.”
District 5
Dallas City Council incumbent Jaime Resendez had a strong lead with 84% of the votes. Resendez is vying for his fourth and final term representing District 5, based in southeast Dallas, including the Pleasant Grove area.
He is challenged by Elizabeth Matus, a first-time candidate, who received 16% of the votes.
District 5, a historically underserved area, has seen the lowest voter turnout in the last four election cycles. Residents cast a little more than 1,600 votes in 2023 and more than 2,100 in 2021.
Resendez grew up in the Pleasant Grove area and has served on the council since 2019. He is an attorney and former Dallas Independent School District trustee. He also served eight years in the U.S. Army as an engineer.
On the council, Resendez advocated for the expansion of parks and green spaces in the Pleasant Grove area, enhancing pedestrian and street safety and improving internet access.
Matus, a nanny and secretary, said on her website that she’s focused on improving policing in Pleasant Grove. She is also focused on the area’s infrastructure and boosting opportunities for homeownership. Matus emphasized infrastructure upgrades, including improved roads, enhanced drainage, and improved park maintenance, and advocated for a free-market approach to housing with fewer zoning restrictions and increased city incentives for affordable single-family homes.
District 7
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua took an early lead, as South Dallas’ District 7 saw a crowded field of candidates looking to unseat the incumbent. Bazaldua is seeking his fourth and final term.
As in previous cycles, several challengers are vying for the District 7 spot, including nonprofit founder O’Neil Hesson; Jose Rivas Jr., former Dallas community police oversight vice chair; and Cydney Walker, project manager and creator of Coffee and Politics 101.
Bazaldua saw about 57% of the votes, followed by Walker and Rivas, who both got about 15%.
Bazaldua has served on the City Council since 2019, when at 32 he was the youngest person elected to the body. In his current term, the three-time incumbent has highlighted efforts to revitalize Fair Park, expand affordable housing and enhance public safety in the district.
Rivas, a retired Navy officer, has said he wants to focus on safer neighborhoods, along with greater fiscal responsibility and transparency in the city.
Hesson ran on a platform centered on fighting gentrification and displacement. He has said he s redirecting Fair Park revenues to benefit neighboring communities and pushing for environmental justice reforms in areas plagued by pollution and illegal dumping.
Walker, known for her civic engagement work, advocated for smart policing, inclusive housing, and transportation improvements to better connect South Dallas residents with jobs and services.
Two other candidates, Lamar “Yaka” Jefferson and longtime community activist Marvin Crenshaw, are seeking the District 7 seat.
Jefferson made headlines with his twin brother when they sued the city in 2023 after being disqualified from the council race. He’s stated that he’s running to give residents a stronger voice, although his current campaign details are limited.
Crenshaw, a write-in candidate, has run for City Council more than a dozen times since 1983. He finished third when he was on the ballot in 2023.
The new City Council will become part of the body tasked with crafting the next city budget, and dealing with new charter-mandated rules that require more funding for police-related initiatives, addressing issues with raising property values, and increasing park space. Council will face issues like homelessness, affordable housing and failing city infrastructure.
The representative for District 7 will answer to several historic neighborhoods. Top issues in the district include oversight of major redevelopment projects like the revitalization of the Forest Theater and surrounding area as well as the ongoing maintenance of buildings at Fair Park, which has buildings with millions of dollars in neglected needs despite the city committing money to address the issues.
District 9
Dallas City Council member Paula Blackmon appeared headed toward winning a fourth term representing District 9 on Tuesday, according to unofficial early voting results.
Blackmon had nearly 78% of the vote over her sole opponent, first-time candidate Ernest Banda, unofficial results showed.
Blackmon has pledged to continue ing infrastructure and road maintenance upgrades in her East Dallas district during her final two years before she must leave office due to term limits. She has made completing the dredging of White Rock Lake one of her top priorities for her next term and pushed for state and federal funding to supplement $20 million in bond money approved by voters last year.
“I’m just excited that the voters have said they want to return me back to City Hall and I’m ready to get to work,” Blackmon said by phone from her victory party at Smoky Rose restaurant.
She led fundraising in her two-way race, with $122,476 in contributions as of April 23, the most recent campaign finance records available. Banda, a retiree in his first bid for public office, raised $4,715, according to finance reports.
Blackmon is a veteran in local politics. Before her election in 2019, she served as chief of staff for former Mayor Mike Rawlings and deputy chief of staff for Mayor Tom Leppert.
She helped lead the creation of the Dallas Opioid Strike Force in 2022, which works with community partners to expand treatment resources and pushes for policy changes. She s expanding mixed-income housing to increase affordability by streamlining permitting and “responsible growth.”
When it comes to White Rock Lake, she advocates for it to remain a public park and opposes development that could threaten its integrity. She said likely development along the nearby Garland Road must be paired with crosswalks and measures for connectivity and safety with the park.
Blackmon was a vocal opponent against two controversial ballot amendments that ed in 2024; they will require the city to hire hundreds more police officers and make it easier for residents to sue public officials for charter violations.
Following their age, Blackmon said the city must look for ways to expand the tax base with quality housing and retail, especially in Dallas’ southern region.
“It’s the district that I raised my kids in, so it’s pretty special,” Blackmon said in a previous interview. “I just feel it’s an opportunity for me to give back. It’s been good to me, so this is my opportunity to say thank you, and I show up every day trying to do the best work I can.”
District 10
Kathy Stewart is projected to easily clinch the City Council seat for Northeast Dallas, which includes Lake Highlands and Hamilton Park, according to unofficial vote totals.
Stewart is headed toward securing a second term by an overwhelmingly wide margin against a familiar opponent — Sirrano Keith Baldeo, an online news site publisher who raced against Stewart in 2023. Stewart had about 93% of the vote as of about 11 p.m.
“I am very grateful that the voters in D10 decided overwhelmingly to send me back to City Hall for two more years,” Stewart said. ”I will continue serving with an open mind and heart, focusing on reducing crime and improving the quality of life throughout the District.”
Stewart, an attorney, was the executive director of Uptown Dallas Inc. and the Lake Highlands Public Improvement District. She chaired the council’s parks, trails and the environment committee and was vice chair of the public safety committee.
Stewart has pointed to her success bringing new parks to the district, including one aimed at transforming a crime hotspot at Forest Lane and Audelia Road.
Stewart has said the greatest challenge in her district is revitalizing aging apartments and shopping centers, and she has vocalized a need for better traffic safety. In her Dallas Morning News election questionnaire, she noted she’s been working to enhance Skillman Street and wants to launch a master plan for the Interstate 635 corridor.
She was endorsed by the Dallas Police Association, the Dallas Fire Fighters Association and former representatives of the district, including Adam McGough and Jerry Allen.
Baldeo described himself on social media as “an independent conservative” running on behalf of Christians in Dallas who feel marginalized and underrepresented. He ran for the City Council in 2019, 2021, and 2023.
He sued Stewart earlier this year on accusations she doesn’t live in the district and lied about her attorney status. A judge tossed the complaint.
Larius DeWayne “L.D.” Pullen, an educator and business owner, also campaigned for the seat as a write-in candidate.
District 12
Dallas City Council member Cara Mendelsohn took an early lead in the race for District 12, according to preliminary voting totals.
Mendelsohn earned about 64% of the votes, according to The News tally of unofficial totals. First-time candidates Marc Rossouw, a financial adviser, and real estate investor Jose Cavazos received about 30% and 6% of the votes, respectively.
Mendelsohn was first elected to the City Council in 2019 and ran unopposed in 2023.
The incumbent raised nearly $99,000 for her campaign, according to finance reports through April 23.
District 12, home to about 96,000 people and 47,000 households, is one of the few districts that stretch beyond Dallas County’s limits. The district reaches into Denton and Collin counties, with the Bush Turnpike on its northern border.
It’s also the city’s only council district with no Dallas ISD schools. Most constituents live in the Richardson, Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Plano school districts.
Mendelsohn campaigned on her record of public safety advocacy, infrastructure investment and fiscal responsibility. She has been vocal about lowering the property tax rate, increasing policing, curbing homelessness encampments and opposing expanding housing policies that she says could negatively impact neighborhoods.
She chairs the council’s public safety committee, ad hoc committee on general investigating and ethics, and the ad hoc committee on legislative affairs.
Opponent Rossouw’s platform focused on allocating resources to address the greatest infrastructure needs — such as roads, alleys and drainage — as well as public safety and transparency. Political newcomer Cavazos described himself on social media as a “pro-life” candidate but did not release extensive proposals for city policies.
District 13
Gay Donnell Willis is hoping voters keep her at the City Hall horseshoe — and unofficial vote totals show they’re so far inclined to do just that.
Willis is competing against realtor Diane Benjamin to secure a spot on the City Council representing northwest and north Central Dallas, including Preston Hollow and Vickery Meadow. Willis is looking for her third term. Benjamin is a first-time candidate.
Willis had about 65% of the vote, according to unofficial totals.
“I’m so grateful to the residents of D13 for returning me to office and look forward to continuing positive momentum of getting things accomplished for all residents of this district,” Willis said.
Public safety has taken center stage in the race for this seat.
Benjamin, a neighborhood leader in Preston Hollow, has said Dallas residents don’t feel safe despite annual declines in violence, and cited slow police response times.
Willis, the CEO and president of the Turtle Creek Conservancy, served on the public safety committee, which put her at the table for high-profile public safety topics in recent years — including police recruitment, officer retention and violent crime. She has been vocal about helping victims of family violence, and wants more officers to address quality-of-life issues, like speeding and loud music.
Benjamin has supplied that the city should dedicate more toward crime and human trafficking reduction, and voiced a need to better retain Dallas police officers. She has criticized what she called excessive city spending and said Dallas needs to focus on public safety, infrastructure and zoning issues.
Willis has pointed to street and alley maintenance as her district’s top challenge and said she plans to continue applying pressure in increasing the street repair and maintenance budget. Benjamin cited road repair as a priority after public safety.
Willis said she brings together leaders of different associations or agencies to fix an issue. She outraised Benjamin by more than double the funds in the lead-up to Election Day.
Staff Writer Julia James contributed to this report.
