Council Member Paige Ellis submitted a petition Monday to seek a third term on Austin City Council. Ellis was first elected to represent District 8, which covers Southwest Austin, in 2018.
Ellis’ campaign announced that she turned in 3,409 signatures, more than the 3,044 it said were required to qualify for the 2026 election. The city clerk’s office on Tuesday confirmed that Ellis needed 3,044 signatures and that it had received her petition and begun its signature verification process.
“I’m encouraged by the strong show of support from thousands of voters around Southwest Austin, including many who were excited to come out and sign the petition on the last day,” Ellis said in a news release.
If Ellis qualifies for the ballot and wins, she would become the first council member elected to a third term under Austin’s current 10-district council system. City Council members are limited to two terms but can petition to run again if they collect signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in their district, according to the city charter.
The only other council member to petition for a third term under the 10-district system was former Council Member Kathie Tovo in 2018. At the time, it was unclear whether Tovo needed to petition for another term because she joined council before the district-based system was implemented in 2014.
If the clerk approves her petition, Ellis will face at least two other candidates, Selena Xie and Jeffery Bowen, in the November election.