The Dallas mayoral and City Council seats were up for grabs on Saturday, with Mayor Eric Johnson and nine of the 14 district City Council members leading the race to reclaim their positions. Additionally, one new face emerged from an open-seat contest. As many as three races could be heading to June 10 runoff elections, including one to fill a second open seat on the governing body.
Candidates included Carolyn King Arnold, Jaime Resendez, Yolanda Williams—a paralegal and former Park Board member—and Joe Tave. Johnson easily secured a second term as Dallas' top elected official after emerging victorious from a competitive nine-person field.
In his victory speech, Mayor Johnson stated: "I'm deeply honored by the trust that our great city has placed in me once again. I will continue working tirelessly to ensure that all residents have access to opportunities for growth and prosperity."
Johnson's second term will also be his last due to term limitations set for Dallas mayors after serving two consecutive terms.
Meanwhile, unofficial results from Saturday night reveal that Janet DePuy and Bob Dubey are locked in a tight race for the Richardson mayoral seat. The winner will replace outgoing mayor Paul Voelker who was appointed as mayor back in 2015.
Commenting on her campaign efforts so far, DePuy said: "It's been an incredible journey meeting with residents throughout this citywide election process. I am focused on continuing my work towards improving our community regardless of tonight’s outcome.”
Richardson’s city council races saw Places 1-6 up for election with Jennifer Justice (Place 2), Joe Corcoran (Place 4), and Arefin Shamshul (Place 6) running unopposed in their respective contests.
Lastly, Derrick D. Robinson faced off against Keithsha Wheaton in the Irving city council race. Robinson expressed his dedication to public service, saying: "I am committed to making a difference for our community and believe that we can achieve great things together."
The final results of these elections will impact local decision-making and policies affecting thousands of residents across Dallas and its neighboring cities.