MEET ZO
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.
During this term, Zo and his wife welcomed their first child, a son named Eesa. Becoming a father in the middle of serving on Council has reinvigorated Zo’s passion for Austin’s future and sharpened his focus on building a city where every child — no matter their background — can grow up safe, healthy, and with opportunity.
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. He championed compatibility reform that allowed for affordable development to be more available across Austin.
Throughout his time on Council, Zo has been a consistent voice for renters, working people, students, and historically marginalized communities — fighting to expand tenant protections, increase affordable housing near transit, and invest in mental-health crisis response to lower first responder call times and deliver police accountability.
Zo believes governing is about building coalitions and delivering results. He hosts open forums, partners with neighborhood and tenant groups, and brings diverse stakeholders into the policymaking process. Under his leadership, District 9 has seen tangible improvements in pedestrian safety, infrastructure coordination, and equitable transit access.
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.
Off the dais, Zo can often be found at community events, cheering on the Longhorns and Austin FC, or supporting local food trucks and music venues. He is proud to represent a district that embodies Austin’s creativity, diversity, and progressive spirit — and he’s ready to keep fighting for an Austin that’s livable, accessible, and just for all.
