Frisco mayoral candidate Mark Hill pumps his fist as he holds his daughter Emily, 7, as he greets supporters with his wife Tiffany Hill (back right) during a runoff election night watch party at The Frisco Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Frisco.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — Voters elected former Frisco ISD trustee Mark Hill as mayor on Saturday, backing a campaign that emphasized unity and inclusion in a city undergoing rapid growth and demographic change.
“The secret to winning an election in Frisco is to go meet everyone,” Hill said Saturday night. He credited “important parts of the Frisco community” for a hand in his victory, thanking the Hindu, Muslim, Hispanic and Asian communities in particular.
His comments come after a campaign that turned from a local debate over traffic and growth into a bitter fight over immigration, religion and the changing face of one of Texas’ fastest-growing cities. More than 33,000 voters cast ballots in the race that shattered turnout records for a municipal election in Frisco.
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Hill and Rod Vilhauer, a retired construction business owner, were vying to succeed outgoing Mayor Jeff Cheney, who is term-limited. Hill will take office July 7.
Supporters cheer as they lift Frisco mayoral candidate Mark Hill (center) as they celebrate his win during a runoff election night watch party at The Frisco Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Frisco.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Frisco mayoral candidate Mark Hill speaks to dozens of supporters after winning a runoff election during a watch party at The Frisco Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Frisco.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Supporters of Frisco mayoral candidate Mark Hill cheer as he arrives at his runoff election night watch party at The Frisco Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Frisco.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Frisco’s population has grown roughly 40% since the last time the city had an open seat for mayor in 2017. The race drew more than $1 million in campaign spending over the past 15 months.
Awaiting the results
Attendees at Hill’s watch party at The Frisco Bar & Grill broke out in raucous applause and whistles as all the results from Denton County were released and displayed on a TV screen. “A Bar Song (Tipsy) ” by Shaboozey played over the speakers.
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The crowd cheered “Mayor Hill! Mayor Hill!” as local business owner Jason Young introduced Hill. Young led the crowd in singing “Amazing Grace” a capella. Then Young praised the multiracial coalition that propelled Hill to victory.
“We are here because we love each other, we love our neighbors, we love Texas,” Young roared into the microphone.
Standing on a chair in front of the crowd, Hill thanked family members and supporters from different civic and religious communities across the city by name. He said the election season had been like a “war zone” at times.
“This election was like no other,” Hill said. “This is history right here.”
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He said his team ran a campaign based on unity by having “friends in different places.”
Supporters of Frisco mayoral candidate Mark Hill celebrate after early voting results in the mayoral runoff election were released during an election night watch party at The Frisco Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Frisco.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Supporters celebrated by waving red and blue pom-poms and cheering while wearing shirts that read “Unite Frisco,” Hill’s campaign slogan. They chanted in unison: “Frisco! Frisco! Frisco!” Hill was joined by his wife, Tiffany, and 7-year-old daughter, Emily.
Supporters were shaking Hill’s hand and offering congratulations. A group of them even picked him up off the ground at one point. As for how he’s feeling?
“Exhausted, happy and motivated,” Hill said.
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Elected officials and former leaders including Cheney, Frisco City Council member Laura Rummel and former Plano City Council member Shelby Williams mingled with supporters.
Hill, a San Antonio native, said he will be keeping one eye on the results for his race and one on the score of the NBA Finals game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
Frisco mayoral candidate Rod Vilhauer (facing) talks with City Council member Burt Thakur during during a runoff election watch party in Frisco, Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
At Vilhauer’s watch party at a sports bar, supporters wearing white and red shirts with the candidate’s name on them sipped margaritas and mingled. The bar was decorated with small American flags and red, blue and white balloons. The candidate said he was feeling “great” as results were being counted but declined to comment further.
A heated campaign trail
The race drew interest well beyond Frisco against a backdrop of protests and debates over diversity and demographics in the city.
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Related: Frisco pauses some public comment in bid to block outside speakers
Hill touted his experience helping attract companies to Frisco as a member of the city’s economic development corporation.
He said more corporate jobs in the city would reduce traffic because fewer residents would have to commute. He also said he’d work with neighboring cities to reduce regional congestion.
Vilhauer said his background in the construction business would be valuable as mayor.
He vowed to eliminate wasteful city spending and build out the city’s major thoroughfares to maximum lane capacity to reduce traffic. Vilhauer also supports bringing large corporations to Frisco to build the city’s tax base.
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Related: Frisco mayor candidates talk diversity, Universal Kids ahead of June runoff
In March, Vilhauer came under fire for comparing South Asian immigrants to “rats” on a podcast and calling Islam a “terrorist group.” He has since apologized and won endorsements from some Indian immigrants.
He didn’t back away from his criticism of Islam and has vowed to fight the spread of Shariah, the set of Islamic principles that guide the personal and religious lives of many Muslims.
Hill said he has seen the benefits of diversity up close when serving on the school board and called his Indian neighbors an “integral part of the community.” Some of his volunteers and donors are Muslim. Hill has denounced Vilhauer’s comments. He said they hurt the city’s image, especially as Frisco courts new residents and companies.