Council Member Ellis announces run for reelection, challenged by former EMS union president

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Both Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis and Selena Xie, an Austin-Travis County EMS commander and the former president of the Austin EMS Association, announced they will run for the Austin City Council District 8 seat next year.

“As a frontline worker, I don’t work from home—and I don’t think our City Council should either,” Xie said Wednesday. “I came to the decision to run after meeting with numerous district residents from many different backgrounds. They all said the same thing—that D8 deserves a Councilmember who shows up. On council, I will bring the same energy to improving affordability, public safety, infrastructure, the environment, constituent services, and communication with residents to District 8 that I brought as EMS Association President. I know we can do better for the people who I’ve been proud to serve.”

Ellis, who is serving her second term as the representative of District 8 (southwest Austin), has hit her term limit, but Austin allows council members to run for reelection for a third term if they get five percent of qualified voters in their district to sign a petition to get back on the ballot.

Ellis announced she will seek that option and run for reelection Wednesday:

Councilmember Paige Ellis will seek a third term to the Austin City Council in 2026. Ellis, one of the most tenured members currently serving on council, will continue to bring a steady hand to policy making and expertise in the areas of housing, mobility, environmental responsibility, and emergency services.

Paige Ellis has also served a leadership role on major events in Austin such as hiring a new City Manager, the COVID-19 pandemic, and navigating the aftermath of two winter storms.

'I have lived and worked in Southwest Austin for 15 years and I understand the unique needs of our friends and neighbors,' Ellis said. 'Together we have improved parks and roads, come together in crisis, and worked to make life a little bit better for everyone. I would be honored to have the community’s support once again.'

In the 10-1 council district era, Ellis is the first person to be re-elected from Southwest Austin District 8 and one of only two candidates to receive more than 20,000 votes in a midterm election (the other is Leslie Pool, District 7).

Paige Ellis, Austin City Council District 8