El Paso, Texas, held a first round of general elections on May 6, 2017, to elect the mayor and city council. The run-off election was June 10, 2017. Incumbent Mayor Oscar Leeser was eligible for another term, but announced in July 2016 he would not seek another term. Leeser had a cancer-related surgery in 2016, but stated that his decision was not because of his health. Instead, it was because he "ran to do things I thought were really important for our community and I did that."[1][2]
The election was non-partisan; therefore there was no primary election. However, if no candidate won a majority there will be a run-off election.[3]
The mayor and council members elected in 2017 will serve through December 2020. The term is shortened because of a charter amendment to move city elections from May in odd-numbered years to November in even-numbered years.[4]
Dee Margo took first place in the mayoral race but did not win a majority of votes, so he and David Saucedo competed in a runoff election.[5] Margo defeated Saucedo in the run-off election.[6] 8.57% of registered voters voted in the run-off election, one of the lowest turnouts in the city's history.[7]
Districts 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 had elections in 2017. District 2 incumbent, Jim Tolbert, and District 7 incumbent, Lilia Limon, were eligible for re-election, but were defeated by Alexansandra Annello and Henry Rivera, respectively. Emma Acosta, District 3 incumbent, and Carl Robinson, District 4 incumbent, were term limited and could not run again; they were succeeded by Cassandra Hernandez and Sam Morgan, respectively. District 8 representative Cortney Niland, whose term was supposed to end in December 2018, resigned in April 2017. The city scheduled a June special election and July runoff election to fill the remainder of her term. The runoff election was won by Cissy Lizarraga.[8][9][10]
Willie Cager, YISD basketball coach, director of the Willy Cager Foundation, and member of the 1966 UTEP Basketball team[14]
Dee Margo, former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives[15]
Elisa Morales, health science researcher, medical device salesperson, Health Graduate Fellow for Congressman Beto O'Rourke and Senator Lamar Alexander, and legislative aide to Senator Tom Udall[16][unreliable source?]
^ abCrowder, David (April 10, 2017). "City to hold June election for Niland seat". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^"El Paso County Elections". County of El Paso. June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
^"Lizarraga takes City Council District 8 runoff by more than 300 votes".
^"Election Summary Report 2017 MAY UNIFORM ELECTION Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF). El Paso County. May 22, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
^"Election Summary Report 2017 JUNE UNIFORM RUNOFF AND SPECIAL ELECTION OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF). El Paso County. June 28, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
^ abCrowder, David (October 3, 2016). "Lucky No. 7? Acosta to run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^"Mayor, city rep races attract 30". El Paso Inc. February 20, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Crowder, David (August 4, 2016). "First hat in the ring: Margo will run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^"About – Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor". Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor. April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^ abcdefghBorunda, Daniel (February 17, 2017). "El Paso mayoral race to feature 7 candidates". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^ abcPerez, Elida S. (August 29, 2016). "2 more El Paso mayoral candidates announce". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Seyffert, Estefania (December 19, 2016). "Boys & Girls Club of El Paso facing financial crisis - Story". KTSM. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Crowder, David (September 20, 2016). "Retired postal worker joins race for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Crowder, David (August 29, 2016). "So who else is running? Not Estela Casas". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Crowder, David (January 16, 2017). "Ready for the next election? Mayor's race is May 6". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Wadsworth, Ford (September 19, 2016). "Whispers: No, she isn't". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Wadsworth, Ford (September 12, 2016). "Whispers: It's a boy!". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Perez, Elida S. (January 18, 2017). "Ethics panel criticizes city attorney's delays". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Cullinane, Ashley (May 22, 2016). "Vado residents: Sanders rally biggest event since 'we got a car wash'". KFOX. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^ abcdefPerez, Elida S. "Candidates for May 2017 city election growing". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"2nd council candidate plans run for District 3".
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)