Zohaib “Zo” Qadri was elected to represent District 9 on the Austin City Council in 2022. He proudly represents a diverse group of Central Austin neighborhoods, including Downtown, Rainey Street, Old West Austin, West Campus, Hyde Park, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Mueller, Cherrywood, and more. Zo attended the University of Texas at Austin and later earned a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University and a graduate degree in Global Affairs from Rice University.

Austin City Council District 9

Zo lives in Central Austin with his wife, Wafa, their son, and their cat, Daisy Mae.

Zohaib “Zo” Qadri attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a master's degree in public administration from Texas State University and a graduate degree in global affairs from Rice University. He lives with his wife, Wafa, and their son.

District 9 | City of Austin | AustinTexas.gov

Zo Qadri made history in 2023 as Austin’s first South Asian and Muslim Councilmember, elected to represent District 9 at a moment when the city was grappling with affordability, inequitable growth, and climate threats. A former legislative aide and community organizer, Zo came to City Hall with a clear purpose: to make Austin more livable, accessible, and just for everyone who calls it home — not just the few who can afford it.

Zo For Austin — Meet Zo

Zo previously worked as a legislative aide and community organizer.

Zohaib “Zo” Qadri was elected to represent District 9 on the Austin City Council in 2022. He proudly represents a diverse group of Central Austin neighborhoods, including Downtown, Rainey Street, Old West Austin, West Campus, Hyde Park, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Mueller, Cherrywood, and more.

Term of Office

Jan. 6, 2023 through Jan. 6, 2027

Zo was elected to represent District 9 on the Austin City Council in 2022. His term of office runs from January 6, 2023, through January 6, 2027.

2026 Texas General Election

We must support small businesses, especially those that are Black and Latino owned, so that our city can retain a sense of place and culture rooted in community. In addition, we must commit to robust citywide labor protections and foster the creation of worker cooperatives when possible.

Zo For Austin — Issues

Passed a resolution backing workers’ rights and urging Google to bargain with YouTube Music contractors, because Austin’s prosperity must include the people who power it.

Zo For Austin

Created the Red River Cultural District fund and a citywide framework to support economic and cultural districts –– so artists, venues, and small businesses don’t get pushed out. Implemented Music Commission Recommendation to increase pay for live City music performances from $150/hour set in 2016 to $200/hour and updated our Local Filming Incentive Program that requires City of Austin Living Wage to qualify.

Supports small businesses, particularly Black- and Latino-owned businesses.

Advocates for citywide labor protections and worker cooperatives.

Says he passed a resolution supporting workers' rights and urging Google to bargain with YouTube Music contractors.

Says he increased city pay for live music performances and required Austin's living wage for local filming incentives.

- Supports small businesses, particularly Black- and Latino-owned businesses.
- Advocates for citywide labor protections and worker cooperatives.
- Says he passed a resolution supporting workers' rights and urging Google to bargain with YouTube Music contractors.
- Says he increased city pay for live music performances and required Austin's living wage for local filming incentives.

Economy

We need local elected officials that both value our local artists and work with them to secure a place in our city. We must expand the pilot program of directing hotel occupancy tax revenue to musicians, strengthening affordable housing options for artists, supporting local venues and studios, and uplifting working-class, Black, and Latino artists through city-sponsored projects and funding.

Created the Red River Cultural District fund and a citywide framework to support economic and cultural districts –– so artists, venues, and small businesses don’t get pushed out.

Advocates for expanding hotel-occupancy-tax funding for musicians, artist housing, local venues, studios, and city-sponsored arts projects.

Says he created the Red River Cultural District fund and a citywide framework supporting economic and cultural districts.

- Advocates for expanding hotel-occupancy-tax funding for musicians, artist housing, local venues, studios, and city-sponsored arts projects.
- Says he created the Red River Cultural District fund and a citywide framework supporting economic and cultural districts.

Public Services

We must ensure a future for Austin that is affordable and climate-resilient, so that our city can be a place that welcomes all and recognizes housing as a human right. It’s time to bring our land use rules in alignment with Imagine Austin, the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint, and the Austin Climate Equity Plan by reforming the rules that keep housing unaffordable.

It’s time to bring our land use rules in alignment with Imagine Austin, the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint, and the Austin Climate Equity Plan by reforming the rules that keep housing unaffordable. In addition, we must be proactive about preventing displacement of and stopping homelessness at the source by fortifying our right-to-return and right-to-stay programs, expanding community land trusts, investing in housing vouchers for low-income residents, and ensuring the $300M in Project Connect anti-displacement funds gets spent on truly affordable housing.

In addition, we must be proactive about preventing displacement of and stopping homelessness at the source by fortifying our right-to-return and right-to-stay programs, expanding community land trusts, investing in housing vouchers for low-income residents, and ensuring the $300M in Project Connect anti-displacement funds gets spent on truly affordable housing. We must also expand the highly successful University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) program to further expand student access to affordable housing, walkability near transit, and safe streets.

Initiated updates to West Campus/UNO to improve affordability, livability, and mobility for the students and workers who keep Austin running. Passed the landmark policy banning the construction of windowless bedrooms. Directed the City Manager to establish a City goal for delivering affordable and accessible student housing and to explore opportunities for increasing the supply of student housing near institutions of higher learning within the City.

Council Member Zo Qadri led historic zoning and housing reforms so whether you're raising a family, have lived here for decades, or just arrived, you can afford to stay and call Austin home. Zo passed comprehensive tenant protections alongside preservation grants for Austin’s heritage.

Secured ongoing funding and policy direction for programs like the HEART outreach team and Downtown Austin Community Court expansion; kept emergency shelter options open; and steered resources toward permanent supportive housing.

Proposes reforming land-use rules to align with Austin planning documents and make housing more affordable.

Advocates for programs to prevent displacement, community land trusts, and housing vouchers, as well as directing Project Connect funds to affordable housing.

Supports expanding the University Neighborhood Overlay program to increase affordable student housing and walkability near transit.

Says he passed tenant protections and preservation grants to protect Austin's heritage.

Says he secured funding for homelessness outreach, community-court expansion, emergency shelters, and permanent supportive housing.

- Proposes reforming land-use rules to align with Austin planning documents and make housing more affordable.
- Advocates for programs to prevent displacement, community land trusts, and housing vouchers, as well as directing Project Connect funds to affordable housing.
- Supports expanding the University Neighborhood Overlay program to increase affordable student housing and walkability near transit.
- Says he passed tenant protections and preservation grants to protect Austin's heritage.
- Says he secured funding for homelessness outreach, community-court expansion, emergency shelters, and permanent supportive housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Launched the CityLeap planning study to repurpose right-of-way for bike/transit, protected bikeways from car parking, and advanced planning on Waller Creek and MoPac South to align with climate and mobility goals. Led budget wins for a Mental Health Diversion Pilot, CASTMED paramedics, and Community Health Navigators—practical, prevention-first safety.

For too long, many municipalities have taken a monolithic approach to public safety. We must continue to find ways to work within state law to win real policing reforms in Austin, such as strengthening and expanding on policing reforms like 9-1-1 Mental Health Services, increased police oversight, and ending APD’s mishandling of sexual assault cases.

We must take a holistic view of public safety that fully funds our EMS and fire services, recommits to our Vision Zero goals, and invests in affordable housing, mental health services, and food accessibility so that no person is too poor to live.

Achieved a 9% decrease in Violent Crimes such as Murder, Sexual Assault, Robbery, and Aggravated Assault in 2024 over 2023. 2024 represents the second year with a decrease in violent crime. Passed Sip Safely, the largest City Drink Spiking Awareness Program in the country which resulted in the city handing out 5,500 drink testing strips and educational materials to ensure access to important safety resources and help prevent drink spiking and create safer entertainment districts across Austin.

The lone “no” vote on the 5-year Austin Police Contract – with a push to reopen negotiations – Zo worried the $218-million deal would be “chipping away” at city-funded social services over the five-year term.

Says he secured budget funding for a mental-health diversion pilot, CASTMED paramedics, and community health navigators.

Advocates for police reforms including 9-1-1 mental-health services, increased oversight, and changes to Austin Police Department sexual-assault case handling.

Supports fully funding emergency medical services and fire services while investing in housing, mental-health services, and food access as public-safety measures.

Says he passed Sip Safely, a drink-spiking awareness program that distributed testing strips and educational materials.

Voted against the five-year Austin Police contract and called for reopened negotiations over its potential effects on city-funded social services.

- Says he secured budget funding for a mental-health diversion pilot, CASTMED paramedics, and community health navigators.
- Advocates for police reforms including 9-1-1 mental-health services, increased oversight, and changes to Austin Police Department sexual-assault case handling.
- Supports fully funding emergency medical services and fire services while investing in housing, mental-health services, and food access as public-safety measures.
- Says he passed Sip Safely, a drink-spiking awareness program that distributed testing strips and educational materials.
- Voted against the five-year Austin Police contract and called for reopened negotiations over its potential effects on city-funded social services.

Public Safety

As we grow as a city, we must meet our growing transportation needs. We must ensure that Project Connect gets built in a timely and equitable manner, so that Austinites will be able to access high quality, frequent public transit services.

To meet our Vision Zero goals, we must invest in infrastructure like safe bus shelters, crosswalks, protected bike lanes, safe streets, and sidewalks. Supporting a robust slate of transportation options will make our streets safer for all road users, while reducing congestion and slashing our carbon emissions.

If we want to meet our climate goals and prevent hundreds of D9 businesses and homes from being demolished, we need advocates on council to demand an I-35 plan from TxDOT that commits to building no wider and no higher.

In his first term, Zo translated that purpose into action. He helped launch the Downtown Austin Strategic Initiative to better coordinate downtown projects, secured a seat on the CapMetro Board of Directors to strengthen regional transit, and championed mobility reforms that made walking, biking, and riding safer and more reliable. He co-authored the city’s initial $104 million investment in the “Cap & Stitch” project to reconnect East and Central Austin across I-35.

Supports building Project Connect promptly and equitably to provide frequent public transit.

Advocates for bus shelters, crosswalks, protected bike lanes, safer streets, and sidewalks to meet Vision Zero goals.

Calls for an Interstate 35 plan that does not make the highway wider or higher to avoid demolishing District 9 homes and businesses.

Says he co-authored Austin's initial $104 million investment in the Cap & Stitch project to reconnect areas across Interstate 35.

- Supports building Project Connect promptly and equitably to provide frequent public transit.
- Advocates for bus shelters, crosswalks, protected bike lanes, safer streets, and sidewalks to meet Vision Zero goals.
- Calls for an Interstate 35 plan that does not make the highway wider or higher to avoid demolishing District 9 homes and businesses.
- Says he co-authored Austin's initial $104 million investment in the Cap & Stitch project to reconnect areas across Interstate 35.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Transportation and housing policy is climate policy. If we want to meet our goal of net-zero emissions by 2040, we must prioritize equitable transit-oriented development on our Project Connect corridors, invest in transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure citywide, plant native trees on our streets to clean up air quality and provide shade, phase out our fossil fuel usage, and commit to climate justice. We must protect the delicate ecosystems of the region by preserving and expanding our green spaces for all future generations to enjoy.

If we want to meet our goal of net-zero emissions by 2040, we must prioritize equitable transit-oriented development on our Project Connect corridors, invest in transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure citywide, plant native trees on our streets to clean up air quality and provide shade, phase out our fossil fuel usage, and commit to climate justice. We must protect the delicate ecosystems of the region by preserving and expanding our green spaces for all future generations to enjoy.

Now Zo is running for re-election to keep pushing Austin forward — scaling up green infrastructure to combat flooding and heat, expanding affordability and transit programs that help Austin safely feel more connected, while ensuring that everyone, from long-time residents to new arrivals, has a real stake in the city’s future.

Advocates for transit-oriented development, infrastructure for walking and biking, urban trees, reduced fossil-fuel use, and climate justice to meet Austin's net-zero goal.

Supports preserving and expanding regional green spaces.

Plans to scale up green infrastructure to address flooding and heat.

- Advocates for transit-oriented development, infrastructure for walking and biking, urban trees, reduced fossil-fuel use, and climate justice to meet Austin's net-zero goal.
- Supports preserving and expanding regional green spaces.
- Plans to scale up green infrastructure to address flooding and heat.

Energy & the Environment

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Zohaib “Zo” Qadri

- Advocates for police reforms including 9-1-1 mental-health services, increased oversight, and changes to Austin Police Department sexual-assault case handling.
- Supports fully funding emergency medical services and fire services while investing in housing, mental-health services, and food access as public-safety measures.
- Says he passed Sip Safely, a drink-spiking awareness program that distributed testing strips and educational materials.
- Voted against the five-year Austin Police contract and called for reopened negotiations over its potential effects on city-funded social services.

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