Incumbents Dominate Dallas City Council Election as Two Races Head to June Runoff
All Current Members Retain Seats While Key Districts Prepare for Leadership Changes
Dallas voters cast their ballots in the city council elections on Saturday, May 3, 2025, with all incumbents successfully defending their seats and two open positions headed for a June runoff. Thirteen of the 14 council positions were contested, resulting in decisive victories for sitting council members, while races in Districts 8 and 11 failed to produce candidates with the required majority. The newly elected officials will be sworn in on June 16, continuing or beginning their service when Dallas faces significant challenges, including public safety concerns, housing affordability, and implementation of recently passed charter amendments.
Incumbents Sweep to Victory Across the City
Every incumbent council member who sought re-election secured their position, many with commanding margins. Jesse Moreno achieved the most decisive victory in District 2, capturing 90 percent of the votes in his second re-election since winning his seat in June 20211. Moreno, a third-generation resident of District 2, has deep community roots and previously served for over seven years on the Dallas Park Board.
Kathy Stewart also performed strongly in District 10, garnering over 93 percent of the votes. Stewart, who has lived in Lake Highlands for 40 years, is completing her first term representing the District.
Chad West, who has represented North Oak Cliff since May 2019, won his third consecutive re-election with 59 percent of the vote. West's nearly 20-year residency in North Oak Cliff has established him as a familiar presence in District 1, where he has focused on housing and development issues following his service as a Dallas City Plan Commissioner.
Southern Dallas Districts See Decisive Results
In District 4, Dallas ISD Trustee Maxie Johnson won handily with 75 percent of the vote, defeating challengers Kebran Alexander and Avis Hardaman. Johnson served on the Dallas school board for six years and will replace term-limited Council Member Carolyn King Arnold.
"Neither of the other candidates appeared to break triple digits in their vote totals," reported KERA News regarding Johnson's decisive victory.
Zarin Gracey retained his District 3 seat with 54 percent of the vote. Gracey, who has lived in the district for ten years, serves on the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce's board and has participated in various non-profit boards in the area.
Tight Races and Upcoming Runoffs
Two districts will require runoff elections on June 7 to determine their representatives, as no candidate achieved the required 50 percent threshold. In District 8, currently represented by term-limited Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, former council member Erik Wilson will face off against former City Plan Commissioner Lorie Blair.
"Erik Wilson had a narrow lead over former City Plan Commissioner Lorie Blair Saturday. That race appeared likely to head into a runoff," according to KERA News.
District 11, where incumbent Jaynie Schultz chose not to seek re-election, will also be decided in a runoff between Bill Roth and Jeff Kitner. The district has recently attracted attention due to a dispute over a mixed-use apartment project at the Pepper Square shopping center, which is now subject to a lawsuit involving local groups and the developer.
Contested District 7 Race Remains with Incumbent
Incumbent Adam Bazaldua retained his District 7 seat despite facing an opposition campaign and failing to receive two major endorsements. The Dallas Police Association endorsed every incumbent except Bazaldua and several others, while The Dallas Morning News endorsed his challenger, Jose Rivas.
"Incumbent Adam Bazaldua appeared to have the votes on election night to fend off a challenge from two opponents. That's despite being the target of an opposition campaign - and failing to receive two major endorsements," reported KERA News.
Paula Blackmon also secured a definitive victory in District 9, garnering more than 3,000 of the 3,973 votes tallied in unofficial results. According to FOX 4 News, Blackmon won with more than 78 percent of the vote.
District 6 Race Draws Significant Interest
In District 6, Laura Cadena emerged victorious with 50.45% of votes, earning over 1,060 ballots cast. The race had attracted significant attention, with nine candidates initially vying for the seat. Eight candidates participated in an April forum at the Dallas College West Dallas Center to discuss public safety, gentrification, affordable housing, and environmental concerns like the controversial GAF shingles factory.
During that forum, candidates addressed residents' concerns about property taxes, neighborhood preservation, and environmental justice. Cadena, whose family has called District 6 home for more than 80 years, emphasized existing programs to make housing more affordable and noted that the city had reduced taxes in the past.
Voter Turnout Remains a Challenge
Despite the significance of these local elections, voter participation remained low, continuing a trend seen in previous Dallas municipal contests5. This persistent low turnout has prompted discussions among Texas legislators about potentially moving Dallas' local elections from May to November in odd years to boost voter participation.
"All incumbents won. Parts of the southern sector are on the cusp of leadership change, and two races are headed into June's run-off elections," reported The Dallas Morning News, highlighting both the results and the ongoing turnout challenges.
Issues Facing the New Council
The newly elected council will confront several significant challenges when it takes office in June. According to KERA News, these include compliance with two new controversial charter amendments passed last year by Dallas voters, pushed by a group with ties to conservative political movements across Texas.
The council will also need to work with two new public safety officials to hire more sworn police officers and decrease response times across the city. While elected officials agree that public safety is a top issue, they remain divided on how best to support first responders.
Restoring Dallas residents' trust in their elected representatives will be another crucial task for the incoming council. The southern districts, in particular, have voiced concerns about being underserved by city government, a point frequently raised by outgoing members Tennell Atkins and Carolyn King Arnold.
Runoff Election Details
The Secretary of State has designated June 7, 2025, as the date for all runoff elections resulting from the May 3, 2025, Uniform Election. The candidate receiving the most votes in these runoff contests will secure the position.
The deadline to register to vote or update addresses for the June 7 runoff is Thursday, May 81. Early voting will run from Tuesday, May 27, 2025, through Tuesday, June 3; on June 7, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Looking Ahead: Transition and Governance
As Dallas prepares for its council transition in June, attention will focus on how the newly constituted body addresses the city's pressing challenges. With most incumbents returning and at least two new members joining after the runoffs, the council must find common ground on issues ranging from public safety to housing affordability and environmental justice.
The May 3 election results largely maintain the status quo in terms of leadership, with all incumbents retaining their seats. However, the upcoming changes in Districts 4, 8, and 11 could shift dynamics, particularly regarding representation for areas south of the Trinity River that have historically felt underserved by city government. As the June 7 runoffs approach, candidates in the remaining contests will have additional weeks to make their case to voters about how they would address Dallas's most pressing needs.