TEXAS — From mayors to contentious propositions, Texans made their voices heard at polling locations on Saturday.
Despite heavy rain and flooding in parts of the state, turnout was fairly robust in some locations as voters made decisions that will affect their respective communities for years.
In Austin, voters passed Proposition B. Seen as a sharp rebuke of actions taken by the Austin City Council, it means that the city’s homeless camping ban will go back into effect.
The proposition was supported by Gov. Greg Abbott and opposed by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and others.
Also in Austin, voters rejected Proposition F. The proposition would have changed city government to a “strong mayor” model, giving the mayor a great deal more power and eliminating the need for a city manager position.
In San Antonio, the highly controversial Proposition B was defeated. It would have repealed the San Antonio police union’s right to collectively bargain with the city.
Also, Mayor Ron Nirenberg easily won a third term, defeating his closest opponent, Greg Brockhouse. Brockhouse previously lost to Nirenberg in 2019.
Republican Susan Wright of Texas, the widow of the first member of Congress to die after contracting COVID-19, advanced to a U.S. House runoff for her late husband’s seat Saturday night.
RELATED: House runoff in Texas set between GOP’s Wright, Ellzey
With nearly all votes counted Saturday, Republican Jake Ellzey led Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez by 354 votes in the race for the second runoff spot in Texas’ 6th Congressional District, which has long been GOP territory. On Sunday, Ellzey was named as Wright's opponent for the U.S. House runoff.
Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, died in February. Susan Wright late last month was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Voters decided on Plano businessman John Muns as the city’s next mayor, Mattie Parker and Deborah Peoples will square off in a June 5 runoff election to replace outgoing Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, and Proposition A and Proposition B in Dallas were both defeated.
Those propositions essentially would have permitted a person to serve on advisory or committee boards without the stipulation that they be citizens.
Dallas' Proposition A & B have failed, according to the unofficial cumulative results. Earlier, I spoke to 3 volunteers with @InclusiveDallas to get their thoughts on what they want to say to those NOT in favor of allowing non-citizens on boards and commissions. @SpectrumNews1TX pic.twitter.com/onppeJ5Jc0
— Stacy Rickard - Spectrum News 1 (@stacyrickardTV) May 2, 2021
The Associated Press contributed to this report.