Kirk Watson

Kirk Watson
Born	Kirk Preston Watson 18 3, 1958
Birthplace	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Known for	Mayor of Austin (two stints), Texas State Senator, 2002 Texas attorney general candidate
Education	Baylor University (BA, JD)
Spouse(s)	Liz Ann McDaniel
Children	2
Website	[http://www.kirkwatson.com/ Official site]

Kirk Preston Watson (born March 18, 1958) is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 59th mayor of Austin, Texas, since January 2023, having previously held the same office as the 54th mayor from 1997 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Watson's political career has spanned more than a quarter century and has included service in the Texas Senate, where he represented District 14 from 2007 to 2020. Between his two tenures as mayor, Watson was an unsuccessful candidate for Texas attorney general in 2002, losing to Republican Greg Abbott, who later became Governor of Texas. Watson also served as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate in 2019 and briefly left elected politics to become the inaugural dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs before returning to public life to seek a second stint as Austin's mayor.

Early Life

Kirk Preston Watson was born on March 18, 1958, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He grew up to become a practicing attorney in Texas before entering the political arena. Watson has publicly discussed personal health challenges, including a battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, which he has described in reflective writings. In a personal essay titled "The Dark Rider," Watson recounted his experience with cancer and the effect it had on his life and outlook. The experience of confronting a life-threatening illness as a relatively young man shaped Watson's later approach to public service and his emphasis on quality-of-life issues during his political career.

Education

Watson attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts degree and his Juris Doctor (JD) degree. His legal training at Baylor provided the foundation for a career in law that would precede and overlap with his extensive involvement in Texas politics.

Career

First Term as Mayor of Austin (1997–2001)

Watson first entered elected office when he was chosen as the 54th mayor of Austin on June 15, 1997, succeeding Bruce Todd. During his first term as mayor, Watson presided over a period of significant growth in the Austin metropolitan area, which was experiencing the effects of the late-1990s technology boom. His tenure focused on issues of urban development, transportation planning, and the city's emerging identity as a technology and cultural hub.

Watson served as mayor until November 9, 2001, when he was succeeded by Gus Garcia. During his time as mayor, Watson was also involved in regional transportation planning, serving in a capacity with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), the regional transportation planning body for the Austin area.

2002 Attorney General Race

Following his tenure as mayor, Watson sought higher statewide office by running as the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Texas in the 2002 general election. He faced Republican candidate Greg Abbott, who at the time was a justice on the Texas Supreme Court. Watson was defeated by Abbott in the general election. Abbott would go on to serve as attorney general for over a decade before being elected Governor of Texas in 2014.

Texas State Senate (2007–2020)

In 2006, Watson successfully ran for the Texas Senate from District 14, which encompasses much of the Austin area. He succeeded Gonzalo Barrientos, who had held the seat for many years. Watson took office on January 9, 2007.

Watson won re-election in 2010 and again in subsequent cycles, establishing himself as a fixture of Austin-area politics in the upper chamber of the Texas Legislature. He announced his intention to seek re-election in 2009.

Senate Democratic Caucus Chair

In 2011, Watson was selected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, a position he held until 2015. In this role, Watson served as the leading voice for Democratic senators in the Texas Legislature, coordinating legislative strategy and serving as a spokesperson for the caucus on key issues.

Legislative Activity

Watson was an active participant in several high-profile legislative battles during his time in the Texas Senate. During the 83rd Texas Legislature in 2013, Watson was involved in the contentious debate over omnibus abortion legislation. State Senator Wendy Davis mounted a prominent filibuster in an attempt to block the legislation, an event that drew national media attention. The legislation was ultimately passed during a second special session of the legislature, which carried additional costs for taxpayers. Governor Rick Perry signed the bill into law in July 2013.

President Pro Tempore

On January 8, 2019, the first day of the 86th Texas Legislature, Watson was elected by his colleagues—both Democrats and Republicans—to serve as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate. The position traditionally goes to the most senior member who has not yet served in the role, regardless of party affiliation. As president pro tempore, Watson was second in the line of succession to the Governor of Texas. He succeeded Robert Nichols in the position and served until May 27, 2019, when he was succeeded by Joan Huffman.

Resignation and University of Houston

The Austin American-Statesman reported that Watson planned to resign from the Texas Senate to become the first dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs. His resignation from the Senate was effective April 30, 2020. Watson was succeeded in the District 14 seat by Sarah Eckhardt. The Hobby School of Public Affairs, named after former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby, was established as a degree-granting college at the University of Houston, and Watson's appointment as its inaugural dean signaled a transition from elected office to academic leadership.

Return to Austin Politics: Second Mayoral Term (2023–present)

With incumbent Mayor Steve Adler not seeking another term, Watson entered the race to become mayor of Austin for a second time. In the 2022 Austin mayoral election, Watson advanced to a runoff election, which he won with 50.4% of the vote, securing his return to the mayor's office more than two decades after his first tenure. Watson took office on January 6, 2023, succeeding Adler.

Focus on Affordability and City Services

Watson's second term as mayor has been characterized by a focus on affordability, city spending, and municipal governance. In October 2025, Watson spoke at the University of Texas at Austin, urging residents to vote for an increased tax rate and addressing the issue of affordability in a rapidly growing city. The budget approved by the Austin City Council for the 2025–26 fiscal year totaled $6.3 billion, a figure that drew legal challenges. Watson and the entire city council were sued over the language used in a tax rate election.

In December 2025, Watson announced plans to pursue an independent, "system-wide" city audit ordinance, proposing an independent audit program to review city services across all departments. In January 2026, marking three years since he took office for his second term, Watson identified reviewing city spending as a major focus for the year ahead.

Community Leadership

In September 2025, Watson addressed the Austin community following a significant development in the long-unsolved Yogurt Shop Murders, one of Austin's most high-profile cold cases. After authorities identified Robert Eugene Brashers as the perpetrator, Watson spoke publicly about the case, stating, "We have some closure."

In October 2025, Watson indicated that the city of Austin would comply with an order to remove certain street markings, including crosswalk murals, while considering alternative ways to exhibit community pride and artistic expression in public spaces.

2024 Re-election

Watson sought re-election as mayor in 2024 and won by an extremely narrow margin, avoiding a runoff by just 13 votes. The close result underscored the competitive nature of Austin politics and the divisions within the city's electorate on issues of growth, taxation, and governance.

Personal Life

Watson is married to Liz Ann McDaniel, and the couple have two children. Watson has been open about his personal experience with Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer he battled earlier in his life. He wrote about the experience in an essay titled "The Dark Rider," published on his personal website, in which he reflected on the impact of the illness on his perspective and his commitment to public service.

Watson has maintained his residence in Austin throughout his political career and is a practicing attorney by profession. His legal background has informed his approach to governance and legislative work throughout his decades of public service.

Recognition

Watson's selection as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate in January 2019 was a notable distinction, as the position is traditionally awarded to the most senior member who has not yet held the post, regardless of party affiliation. His election to the role by both Democratic and Republican colleagues was seen as a recognition of his standing within the chamber.

His appointment as the inaugural dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs in 2020 represented a recognition of his expertise in governance and public policy, following more than two decades of public service at the municipal and state levels.

Legacy

Kirk Watson's career in Texas politics spans a period of substantial transformation in the city of Austin and the state as a whole. His first tenure as mayor coincided with the technology-driven growth of the late 1990s, and his return to the mayor's office in 2023 came as Austin continued to grapple with the consequences of rapid population expansion, rising housing costs, and questions about municipal governance.

Watson's time in the Texas Senate, lasting more than 13 years, established him as one of the most prominent Democratic legislators in a state where the party has been in the minority for decades. His role as Senate Democratic Caucus chair and his bipartisan election as president pro tempore reflected his position as a senior figure in the Texas Legislature.

His decision to return to Austin's mayoral office after serving as a state senator and briefly entering academia demonstrated an unusual trajectory in Texas politics, with Watson becoming one of the few figures in the state's history to serve as mayor of a major city, leave for statewide and legislative office, and then return to lead the same city again. His second stint as mayor has been defined by a focus on fiscal accountability, affordability, and the administration of a city whose population and budget have grown substantially since his first term.