Carmen Llanes Pulido Denied Recount Request in Austin Mayoral Race

Carmen Llanes Pulido, the runner-up in the recent Austin mayoral election, has had her recount request denied by the Travis County Clerk's Office. Pulido, who lost to incumbent Mayor Kirk Watson by a narrow margin of just 14 votes, argued that every vote should be counted to ensure a fair process. However, the Clerk's Office stated that her request was for a partial recount, which is not permitted under Texas law for city elections. Watson emphasized that recounts must encompass the entire jurisdiction rather than selected precincts. Pulido is now considering her next steps, including potential legal action to either appeal the decision or resubmit a comprehensive recount request. This situation highlights the close nature of the election and ongoing discussions about election integrity.