(April 25, 2026) “My name is Dave and I’m running for Austin City Council – District 9! We need to take back our environment!”
With that social media announcement, 19-year-old Dave Thadani set the tone for a campaign that is direct, public and unusually early in life. A computer science freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, he is contesting the District 9 seat on the Austin City Council.
Born and raised in West Austin to immigrant parents, Thadani describes himself as a lifelong Texan shaped by “hard work, public service, and community.” These are the values he says he learned at home. His campaign positions him as a student candidate, and anchors his campaign in a long-standing connection to the city he now seeks to represent.
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The power of a city council seat
In the United States, city councils are powerful local governing bodies responsible for decisions that directly shape daily life. These include housing regulations, public transport, zoning laws, environmental planning and civic services. In Austin, the capital of Texas, local governance plays a central role in managing rapid urban expansion, as it does in other American cities
District 9, the constituency Dave Thadani is contesting, sits at the core of that growth. It includes downtown Austin, the Texas State Capitol area and the University of Texas at Austin, making it one of the most visible and densely populated districts. The area represents a mix of students, professionals, renters and long-time residents.
For Dave, that mix is precisely why representation matters. “Students (are) almost getting left behind in a city that prides itself in its flagship university,” he told The Daily Texan.
A student candidate in a system that allows it
Dave’s candidacy stands out immediately because of his age. At 19, he meets the minimum requirement of 18 to run for Austin City Council. The question he hears most often is whether he is old enough. His response has been consistent. Age, he argues, is secondary to lived experience.
“A lot of people ask me if it’s challenging being a student and running for office at the same time, but I think that’s the point,” he said. “I’m living an experience that everybody has to live.”
He also sees his campaign as an opening for others. “A lot of students don’t know that they can get involved,” he said, adding that young people are often left out of decision-making despite forming a large part of the district.
Image Credit: Dave Thadani’s campaign website
Facing established names in the race
In November, Dave will face incumbent Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, who has held the seat since 2023, along with former UT professor Rich Heyman and UT alumna Katie Kam.
Against candidates with more experience, Dave has drawn a distinction between having lived student life and currently living it. “(Alumni) are no longer in the same struggle that a lot of these students are currently in,” he said. “You can’t say that you know exactly what it’s like when you’re not in that exact situation.”
Understanding the issues
His policy priorities reflect the concerns he says he sees around him every day. Housing is at the centre of his campaign, particularly the challenges faced by students renting for the first time.
Dave has spoken about “predatory lease contracts” and a lack of transparency in rental agreements. To address this, he has proposed a landlord transparency portal that would allow residents to access complaints, maintenance records and code violations before signing leases. “If we were to consolidate that (information)… it would provide that peace of mind,” he told The Daily Texan.
He has also highlighted the city’s 3-1-1 app, which allows residents to report non-emergency issues, and has called for greater awareness of it among students. “You don’t have to live in an environment that’s not suitable,” he said. “You have the right to a natural home, a place where you can call home without being worried about getting sick.”
Beyond housing, his platform includes safe and sustainable city planning, with a focus on green spaces and infrastructure.
Sustainability and planning
Environmental concerns are central to his campaign message, beginning with his call to “take back our environment.” He has linked this to the urban heat island effect and the need for more sustainable development.
“One of the main reasons we have the urban heat island effect… is because we haven’t practiced that sustainable development that we all like to pledge,” he said. He also supports the University Neighborhood Overlay programme, a redevelopment plan for West Campus that has been delayed for months.
A campaign built in public
Dave Thadani’s campaign unfolds as much online as it does on the ground. His social media features memes and short videos, but also direct appeals to participation. “I’m a 19yo running for Austin City Council in Texas… It’s time we get people back into politics,” he says in one post, adding that he is documenting the entire process so others can follow.
On his website, he describes himself as “a catalyst for the people” aiming to “restore transparency and accountability within the city of Austin.” He maintains a live document tracking his campaign journey, from early steps to ongoing milestones. “The hardest part about running for office shouldn’t be the paperwork,” he writes.
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A message beyond the campaign
Dave frames his candidacy as part of a broader movement rather than a personal milestone. He cites civil rights activist Ella Baker as an inspiration and emphasises collective action.
“I really want to show people that anyone, regardless of political background, can run for office,” he says. “This movement isn’t about me… it’s about all of Austin having the opportunity to represent their community.”
With a fundraising goal of $10,000 and early benchmarks in place, his campaign is still building. The outcome of the November election remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is the idea he repeats across platforms and interviews: “It’s time we get people back into politics.”
- Follow Dave Thadani on Instagram
- To learn more about his campaign, visit his campaign website
