Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

City Council Member, District 8

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

City of Austin
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Jeffery BowenNonpartisan
Selena XieNonpartisan
On ballot as
Jeffery Bowen
Selena Xie
Current role
Chair, City of Austin Board of Adjustment; president, Austin Neighborhoods Council
Commander, Austin-Travis County EMS; ICU nurse at Dell Seton Medical Center
Background
  • U.S. Air Force retiree
  • Taught leadership and management courses at Bergstrom Air Force Base (per the Austin Monitor)
  • Business owner (per his Community Impact Q&A)
  • Resident of what is now District 8, 37 years (per candidate)
  • Degree in Political Science and Economics, Amherst College (per campaign)
  • Paramedicine studies, Austin Community College (per campaign)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Texas Tech University (per campaign)
  • Austin-Travis County EMS, more than a decade, starting as a field paramedic (per campaign)
Experience
  • Works in construction services
  • Board member, Oak Hill Association of Neighborhoods (per campaign)
  • Ran for Austin mayor (2024)
  • President, Austin EMS Association, six years (per campaign)
  • Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council (per candidate)
  • Asian Texans for Justice (per candidate)
Top priorities
  • "Main issues are public safety including filling open positions at APD, Fire and EMS."
  • "Homeless strategies must yield positive measurable results."
  • "Work on reducing the Bond debt and reducing the city deficit."
  • "Establish neighborhood circulators in order to connect riders to transit services."
  • Campaign site: "I have been asking for an audit since 2024."
  • "My top priority is making District 8 more affordable, safe, resilient, and responsive to residents."
  • "I would support regular audits of every City department, outcome-based budgeting, and greater transparency around spending."
  • Mobility: "a lack of sidewalks and connectivity, the need for greater transit options, and improved trail and bicycle infrastructure"
  • "we need to expand home repair and eviction prevention programs to keep residents in their homes and communities"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Work on reducing the Bond debt and reducing the city deficit."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "HOME has failed to produce affordable housing."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Main issues are public safety including filling open positions at APD, Fire and EMS."
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "I would support regular audits of every City department, outcome-based budgeting, and greater transparency around spending."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "There needs to be a focus on providing deeply affordable and family-friendly housing."
  • Flooding and drainage: Campaign site: "Protecting Barton Creek, the Edwards Aquifer, and our neighborhoods from flooding, drought, and wildfire."
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "Strong EMS, fire, and police, plus modern crisis response so the right help arrives in time."
Endorsements
  • New Day Austin (listed by campaign)
  • League of Independent Voters (listed by campaign)
  • Austin Reform (listed by campaign)
  • Zilker Neighborhood Association (listed by campaign)
  • Zilker Neighborhood Executive Committee (listed by campaign)
Show all 7
  • Ora Houston, Former Austin City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Margaret Gomez, Former Travis County Commissioner (listed by campaign)
  • Austin Central Labor Council
  • Congressman Lloyd Doggett (listed by campaign)
  • Congressman Greg Casar (listed by campaign)
  • Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor and Representative Vikki Goodwin (listed by campaign)
  • Representative Donna Howard (listed by campaign)
Show all 20
  • Representative Lulu Flores (listed by campaign)
  • Representative Sheryl Cole (listed by campaign)
  • Representative John Bucy (listed by campaign)
  • Pooja Sethi, Democratic nominee for HD 47 (listed by campaign)
  • Monserrat Garibay, Democratic nominee for HD 49 (listed by campaign)
  • Judge Andy Brown (listed by campaign)
  • Commissioner Brigid Shea (listed by campaign)
  • Commissioner Ann Howard (listed by campaign)
  • Commissioner George Morales (listed by campaign)
  • Constable Stacy Suits (listed by campaign)
  • Former Tax Assessor Collector Bruce Elfant (listed by campaign)
  • Austin EMS Association (listed by campaign)
  • AFSCME (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Forward (listed by campaign)
  • Asian Democrats of Texas (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
jeffbowenforaustincitycouncil.com
selenaforaustin.com

Jeffery Bowen

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Jeffery Bowen
Current role
Chair, City of Austin Board of Adjustment; president, Austin Neighborhoods Council
Background
  • U.S. Air Force retiree
  • Taught leadership and management courses at Bergstrom Air Force Base (per the Austin Monitor)
  • Business owner (per his Community Impact Q&A)
  • Resident of what is now District 8, 37 years (per candidate)
Experience
  • Works in construction services
  • Board member, Oak Hill Association of Neighborhoods (per campaign)
  • Ran for Austin mayor (2024)
Top priorities
  • "Main issues are public safety including filling open positions at APD, Fire and EMS."
  • "Homeless strategies must yield positive measurable results."
  • "Work on reducing the Bond debt and reducing the city deficit."
  • "Establish neighborhood circulators in order to connect riders to transit services."
  • Campaign site: "I have been asking for an audit since 2024."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Work on reducing the Bond debt and reducing the city deficit."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "HOME has failed to produce affordable housing."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Main issues are public safety including filling open positions at APD, Fire and EMS."
Endorsements
  • New Day Austin (listed by campaign)
  • League of Independent Voters (listed by campaign)
  • Austin Reform (listed by campaign)
  • Zilker Neighborhood Association (listed by campaign)
  • Zilker Neighborhood Executive Committee (listed by campaign)
Show all 7
  • Ora Houston, Former Austin City Council Member (listed by campaign)
  • Margaret Gomez, Former Travis County Commissioner (listed by campaign)

Selena Xie

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Selena Xie
Current role
Commander, Austin-Travis County EMS; ICU nurse at Dell Seton Medical Center
Background
  • Degree in Political Science and Economics, Amherst College (per campaign)
  • Paramedicine studies, Austin Community College (per campaign)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Texas Tech University (per campaign)
  • Austin-Travis County EMS, more than a decade, starting as a field paramedic (per campaign)
Experience
  • President, Austin EMS Association, six years (per campaign)
  • Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council (per candidate)
  • Asian Texans for Justice (per candidate)
Top priorities
  • "My top priority is making District 8 more affordable, safe, resilient, and responsive to residents."
  • "I would support regular audits of every City department, outcome-based budgeting, and greater transparency around spending."
  • Mobility: "a lack of sidewalks and connectivity, the need for greater transit options, and improved trail and bicycle infrastructure"
  • "we need to expand home repair and eviction prevention programs to keep residents in their homes and communities"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "I would support regular audits of every City department, outcome-based budgeting, and greater transparency around spending."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "There needs to be a focus on providing deeply affordable and family-friendly housing."
  • Flooding and drainage: Campaign site: "Protecting Barton Creek, the Edwards Aquifer, and our neighborhoods from flooding, drought, and wildfire."
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "Strong EMS, fire, and police, plus modern crisis response so the right help arrives in time."
Endorsements
  • Austin Central Labor Council
  • Congressman Lloyd Doggett (listed by campaign)
  • Congressman Greg Casar (listed by campaign)
  • Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor and Representative Vikki Goodwin (listed by campaign)
  • Representative Donna Howard (listed by campaign)
Show all 20
  • Representative Lulu Flores (listed by campaign)
  • Representative Sheryl Cole (listed by campaign)
  • Representative John Bucy (listed by campaign)
  • Pooja Sethi, Democratic nominee for HD 47 (listed by campaign)
  • Monserrat Garibay, Democratic nominee for HD 49 (listed by campaign)
  • Judge Andy Brown (listed by campaign)
  • Commissioner Brigid Shea (listed by campaign)
  • Commissioner Ann Howard (listed by campaign)
  • Commissioner George Morales (listed by campaign)
  • Constable Stacy Suits (listed by campaign)
  • Former Tax Assessor Collector Bruce Elfant (listed by campaign)
  • Austin EMS Association (listed by campaign)
  • AFSCME (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Forward (listed by campaign)
  • Asian Democrats of Texas (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
selenaforaustin.com

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