McKinney Election Results: Diverse Candidates Show Mixed Performance in City Races
In McKinney, Texas, voters cast their ballots on May 3, 2025, deciding local races to shape the city's future leadership. Bill Cox and Scott Sanford will advance to a June runoff in the mayoral contest after neither secured the required 50% threshold. Meanwhile, the city council races featured candidates from diverse backgrounds, including several Muslim contenders across Collin County who showed mixed results. The election, which saw a modest 7.35% turnout of the county's 740,482 registered voters, highlighted opportunities and challenges for increasing representation in local government.
McKinney Mayoral Race Heads to Decisive Runoff
Former city council member Bill Cox led the four-person mayoral race with 8,953 votes (46.79%), falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Scott Sanford, a former state representative, followed closely with 7,810 votes (40.81%), according to final, unofficial results from all 59 voting centers in Collin County. The remaining candidates, Taylor Willingham and Matt "Doc" Rostami, received 6.62% and 5.78% of votes, respectively.
Cox, who previously served as an at-large city council member and mayor pro tem, campaigned on his deep connections to McKinney and experience with the city's development.
"I've seen it when it was a small town, and I've seen what it is now, and I understand completely what it will take to take McKinney into the future," Cox said at a mayoral debate, as reported by KERA News.
Sanford, who served in the Texas House from 2013 to 2023 and is the executive pastor at Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, positioned himself as a candidate who could help the city manage growth while preserving its character.
"We're at this exciting crossroads of history in McKinney, with great opportunity in front of us, where we can embrace the vitality of the new while retaining all of the charm of the old," Sanford stated during the debate.
The runoff election is scheduled for June 7, and early voting will take place May 27-31 and June 2-3.
Muslim Candidates in Council Races See Mixed Results
While the search for greater representation continues, Muslim candidates across Collin County performed variably in the May 3 elections. In the McKinney City Council At-Large District 1 race, Taha Ansari received approximately 14% of the votes, placing fifth in a competitive five-person contest. Ernest Lynch led with 29% of votes, followed by Jim Garrison with 20%, as the race appears headed to a runoff.
In nearby Murphy, two Muslim candidates faced challenging races: Nadeem A. Khan received 30.02% of votes in his bid for Council Member Place 1, losing to Elizabeth Abraham, who secured 69.98%. Similarly, Qasim Rasul received 18.51% in the Murphy's Council Member Place 6 race, with winner Jene Butler capturing 81.49% of votes.
The most notable success for a Muslim candidate came in Richardson (partly in Collin County), where Arefin Shamsul won the Council Member Place 6 position with a convincing 60.25% of votes against Lisa Marie Kupfer's 39.75%.
Feltus Secures Re-Election in McKinney District 3
In McKinney's City Council District 3 race, incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Geré Feltus successfully defended her seat, winning re-election with 53.52% of votes against challenger Tammy Warren.
Feltus, who serves as CEO of a nonprofit health clinic in Lewisville, campaigned on her record of working to lower property taxes and increase homestead exemptions for senior homeowners while preserving McKinney's historic downtown.
"As a growing and evolving city, McKinney needs experienced, knowledgeable, and principled leadership to navigate the path forward," Feltus said in her Facebook campaign announcement, as quoted by KERA News. "I remain committed to being a voice for our community, advocating for responsible growth, innovative solutions, and the preservation of our unique character and quality of life."
Voter Turnout Remains a Challenge
Despite the importance of these local races, voter participation remained relatively low. Early voting data showed 54,401 ballots cast countywide, representing just 7.35% of Collin County's 740,482 registered voters6. This turnout figure is consistent with historical patterns for local elections, which typically see lower participation than state and national contests.
The modest turnout presents both a challenge and an opportunity for candidates seeking to broaden their support base, particularly those from communities historically underrepresented in local government.
Looking Ahead: Runoffs and Future Representation
As McKinney and Collin County move forward from the May 3 elections, attention will now turn to the June 7 runoffs. For Muslim candidates and other aspirants from diverse backgrounds, these results offer valuable lessons about coalition-building and community engagement.
While some Muslim candidates faced uphill battles in their races, the success of candidates like Arefin Shamsul in Richardson demonstrates that voters are increasingly willing to elect qualified candidates regardless of faith or background. As Collin County grows and diversifies, future elections may present additional opportunities for broader representation across local government.
The runoff elections will determine McKinney's next mayor and fill remaining contested council seats, setting the stage for leadership that will guide one of Texas's fastest-growing counties through continued development and change.