Residents in Houston City Council District C can begin casting ballots Wednesday in a special election to fill a vacant seat representing a large swath of the city, from the Heights through Montrose to Meyerland.
Early voting runs through March 31 ahead of Election Day on April 4. Seven candidates are on the ballot in the heavily Democratic district: Angelica Luna Kaufman, Sophia Campos, Audrey Nath, Laura C. Galliard, Patrick Othout, Joe Panzarella and Nick Hillar.
The special election was triggered after former council member Abbie Kamin resigned to run for Harris County attorney.
Voters can cast ballots at six early voting locations across the district, including the Harris County Attorney Conference Center, Bayland Park Community Center, Candlelight Park Community Center, Courtyard by Marriott West University, Metropolitan Multi-Service Center and SPJST Lodge 88. Most polling sites will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with limited noon openings on select dates.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the race will advance to a runoff election.
The contest is part of a busy election cycle for many Houston-area voters, particularly those who also reside in Texas’ 18th Congressional District. Additional runoff elections are scheduled for May 26, including the Republican U.S. Senate runoff between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn, the Democratic primary runoff for Harris County judge between Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer, and the Democratic runoff in Congressional District 18 between Christian Menefee and Al Green.
For District C residents, the coming weeks could mean multiple trips to the polls as voters weigh in on local and statewide races. Election officials encourage voters to check polling locations and hours before heading out.
Local leaders and election officials continue to emphasize the importance of participation, noting that even low-turnout races can have a significant impact on community representation and policy decisions.