Watch Live: KXAN hosts Austin mayoral debate Thursday

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- KXAN will host a live, hourlong debate with all five Austin mayoral candidates Thursday ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

You can watch the debate live in this story or on KXAN News at 4 p.m.

Once the debate starts, stick with this story for live blog updates and analysis.

How to watch

• The debate will broadcast live on KXAN News from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• That debate will be livestreamed in this story starting at 4 p.m.
• KXAN's City Hall Reporter and "Inside Austin's Agenda" host Grace Reader will host a separate live stream with fact-checking and additional context on the debate in real-time. That stream will start around 3:30 p.m. You can find that stream in this story, as well.

What's the setup/rules?

• Moderators will be KXAN anchors Jennifer Sanders and Tom Miller
• There will be no opening statements to allow more time for candidates to share their specific ideas with voters
• Each candidate will have 60 seconds to answer initial questions directed toward them
• If a follow-up or rebuttal is needed, moderators will give a candidate 30 seconds to respond
• Moderators may allow another 15-second answer if they determine a clarification is needed
• Candidates will be given a 30-second closing statement

Meet the candidates

There are five people on your ballot to become Austin's next mayor: Carmen Llanes Pulido, Jeffery Bowen, Doug Greco, incumbent Mayor Kirk Watson and Kathie Tovo. All of them have RSVPed for our debate.

The information on candidates below is in the order you'll see the candidates on your ballot.

Carmen Llanes Pulido

On Jan. 23, Carmen Llanes Pulido announced her intentions to run for Austin mayor.

According to a release from her campaign, Llanes Pulido "has been a leading voice" in underserved Austin communities working with GAVA (Go! Austin/¡Vamos! Austin) and as a member of the planning commission.

Llanes Pulido is the executive director for GAVA.

“Many Austinites from diverse backgrounds have asked me to step up and run for office," Llanes Pulido said in the release. “There is a real craving for honest representation and common-sense solutions. People see a lack of transparency and a genuine problem with the influence that wealthy special interests wield. We need leadership that listens to the needs of people from all ends of the economic spectrum.”

You can read more about Llanes Pulido's platforms in our sit down with her here.

Jeffery L. Bowen

On Aug. 19, the final day to file to be on the ballot, Bowen threw his name in the hat. He told KXAN he made the call after seeing Jennifer Virden's post about not running for office.

"I'm behind. But you know what? Nothing ventured, nothing gained," he told KXAN.

Bowen is a veteran -- he served more than 20 years -- and now owns a small business doing consulting, project management and other miscellaneous projects. He's Council Member Mackenzie Kelly's appointee to the board of adjustments and is vice president of the Austin Neighborhoods Council.

He was also one of the plaintiffs on the CodeNEXT lawsuit, which undid the city's overhaul of its land development code -- and a lawsuit that followed which undid several land development code changes that followed.

"Honestly, when I was asked about what my feelings were--if I wanted to join the lawsuit, I said, 'Yeah, sign me up.' I had a problem with the fact of the city wanting to take away my protest rights and also violating state law," he said.

You can read more about Bowen and his platforms in our one-on-one with him here.

Doug Greco

On Feb. 5, Doug Greco also announced he was running for the position.

According to a release, Greco served as the lead organizer and executive director for Central Texas Interfaith for 12 years and stepped down just prior to his announcement.

In his announcement, Greco pointed to his work on LGBTQ rights under State Rep. Gina Hinojosa and as director of programs at Equity California. Greco is also openly gay, his release said.

“I’m running for Mayor because Austin needs a leader who will stand up for working people and against big money at City Hall and unchecked corporate power in politics overall. Despite Austin’s wealth and unprecedented growth, working people continue to be pushed out of the city and out of the middle class,” said Greco.

You can read more about Greco and his platforms in our one-on-one with him here.

Kirk Watson

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is officially running for reelection, he announced in April.

Watson served as mayor from 1997-2001 and took office again in early 2023. The mayor will serve two years, instead of four because Austin voted to have its election run concurrent to the presidential one. It means the national stage will play a bigger role in Austin politics moving forward.

“We’ve made such great strides, but I want a full term of four years,” Watson said. “When I came in, I think there was a general feeling and understanding that city hall wasn’t taking care of people’s basic needs in the city, and I think now the general understanding is that it’s on track and it’s doing those kinds of things.”

You can read more about Watson's policies in KXAN's sit down interview with Watson.

Kathie Tovo

Former Austin City Council Member Kathie Tovo officially announced her intent to run for the seat in mid-January.

Tovo served on the city council from 2011 to 2023 as an at-large member of the council and later for District 9.

“I’m still committed to these same progressive values: equity, honest government and standing up for women, workers, immigrants and our LGBTQIA+ community. You can also count on me to fight against bad plans like the I-35 expansion and the State’s attacks on our local freedoms.

This campaign will be about engaging with Austinites throughout the city to craft a vision where every Austinite has the opportunity to succeed and thrive,” Tovo said in her announcement.

Read more about Tovo's platforms in KXAN's one-on-one interview with her.