AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The race to become Austin's next mayor appears to be headed towards a December runoff, based on early voting totals Tuesday night - in a runoff election that will also include three Austin City Council seats.
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday night, state representative Celia Israel was leading the field of six candidates vying to replace outgoing Mayor Steve Adler, with just over 40 percent of the vote. Former Austin mayor and state senator Kirk Watson was just behind Israel in second place, with 35 percent of the vote.
Former Austin City Council candidate Jennifer Virden was running a distant third, with just under 18 percent of the vote.
In order to avoid a runoff, a candidate would need to win 50 percent plus one of the votes cast. Otherwise, the top two candidates will face off in a runoff election on December 13.
In addition to the mayor's race, five Austin City Council seats were up for grabs - with only two incumbents on the ballot. District 1's Natasha Harper-Madison and district 8's Paige Ellis were both leading in early returns, with both above the threshold needed to avoid a runoff.
In the three other seats - districts 3, 5, and 9 - the top two candidates will proceed to the runoff.
Austin voters also overwhelmingly approved Proposition A, which would provide $350 million for affordable housing projects in the city. More than 72 percent of voters were in favor of the measure.