District 9 council race: incumbent Zo Qadri faces four challengers. Here's his record in our data

District 9 voters will pick a City Council member on Nov. 3, in a race that has drawn coverage from KUT and Axios this month. Incumbent Zohaib "Zo" Qadri is seeking reelection against four challengers. Housing density, transit, policing and the Prop I audit measure are the main dividing lines.

District 9 is one of five council seats on the ballot. On Aug. 6 the council unanimously ordered elections for Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9.

The candidates

KUT interviewed the field. In ballot order, it reported:

• Rich Heyman, a former UT Austin urban studies professor, wants to end tax incentives for large companies. He opposes Flock license-plate cameras, questions Project Connect's cost and scope, backs both bonds and opposes Prop I.
• Katie Kam has a background in civil engineering and city planning and is a former Austin ISD science teacher. She favors expanding the Mueller affordable housing program, opposes raising taxes and prefers an elevated monorail to street-level light rail. She is undecided on the bonds and supports Prop I.
• Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, the incumbent, supports housing and parking code changes, multimodal transit and both bonds. He opposes Prop I and police encampment sweeps.
• Kai Huang works in cryptocurrency and wants more downtown policing, more apartments and tax incentives tied to housing for homeless residents. He opposes Project Connect and supports Prop I. KUT reported he had no reported contributions.
• Dave Thadani did not respond to KUT's interview requests.

On housing, Qadri told KUT, "We have a land development code that hasn't been fully updated since 1984." On Prop I, he said, "I think it's there to confuse people." Axios Austin reported that the race has put a spotlight on the YIMBY ("yes in my backyard") housing movement.

What our records show about Qadri

What he has filed. Our District 9 page lists the legislation Qadri has sponsored this term. Many items are fee waivers for community events. Others are policy items, including:

• a resolution on unbundling parking from the cost of renting or buying a home, which passed;
• a waiver of right-of-way fees for The Bloom at Lamar Square, a 100-unit deeply affordable development;
• a resolution to rezone the MACC Pocket Park on Rainey Street for park use.

What he co-sponsored on Oct. 22. At the most recent council meeting he co-sponsored the Convention Center local workforce resolution and the Parmer Lane resolution. Both passed on consent. He also spoke in support of a fee waiver for the Sunday Sessions event (record).

How he voted on the bonds. On Aug. 4 Qadri was among the eight members who voted yes to send the $295 million parks and library bond package toward the ballot. Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Members José Velásquez and Marc Duchen voted no.

What his campaign has reported. Our campaign finance page for District 9 tracks Qadri's itemized filings since November 2022. It shows $857,287 raised over that period. His most recent filing, the 30-day pre-election report covering through Sept. 24, 2026, shows $11,545 raised in that period and $137,709 on hand. Our campaign finance pages cover sitting council members, so they do not include the challengers' filings.

What's next

The city has hosted candidate panels for contested council races this fall. Early voting runs through Friday, Oct. 30, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polling places are on the Travis County Clerk's elections site.