Farrah Abraham briefly announced she had filed to run for Austin mayor during a Jan. 15 TMZ interview but withdrew after learning the next mayoral election is in 2028. That same day she refiled to run for Austin City Council, seeking the District 5 seat, and said she would focus on housing affordability and support for self-employed creatives. Abraham, who moved to Austin in 2013 and is mother to daughter Sophia, admitted she had been misinformed about the election timetable. The report also noted Spencer Pratt’s announced 2026 run for Los Angeles mayor as part of a trend of reality stars entering local politics.
Farrah Abraham Briefly Files For Austin Mayor, Withdraws After Learning Election Is In 2028 — Now Running For City Council
Michael Simon/GettyFarrah Abraham in New York City on Sept. 12, 2025
Farrah Abraham, the reality TV alum known from Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant, briefly announced she had filed to run for mayor of Austin, Texas, only to retract the mayoral bid after learning the next mayoral election is not until 2028. She has since refiled to run for the Austin City Council seat representing District 5.
The episode unfolded during a Jan. 15 interview on TMZ. Abraham told the show she had submitted paperwork to run the day before and said she was excited to enter the race. When host Harvey Levin asked why she was announcing so early, Abraham responded that she believed the mayoral election would take place in 2026 and that city officials had told her the race was this year.
“I’m super excited to be a candidate for mayor of Austin. I’m running super early, so I can’t wait to see who’s going to run with me and challenge me,” Abraham said on TMZ, later acknowledging she had “jumped the gun” after learning the mayoral contest is two years away.
That same day, Abraham told local outlet KXAN that her campaign refiled paperwork to place her on the ballot for Austin City Council, District 5. She said she moved to Austin in 2013 and wants to get involved locally.
Steve Eichner/Variety via GettyFarrah Abraham at the Page Six Virtual Reali-Tea Awards on Sept. 17, 2025
“I’m very serious about this … I love this city and I want to get involved in and help where I live and breathe,” Abraham told KXAN. “I know I can help because I’m making it, others seem to be struggling, and I want to jump in the mix.”
Abraham, 34, first appeared on Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant in 2009 and is the mother of one daughter, Sophia. On policy, she said she would prioritize housing affordability and address challenges faced by self-employed residents, particularly creatives. She also admitted she was uncertain who currently represents District 5, saying local leaders haven’t been highly visible where she works.
Practical notes: the filing deadline for Austin city council candidates is Aug. 18. The story was placed in a broader context of reality TV personalities entering local politics — earlier in January, Spencer Pratt of The Hills announced a run for mayor of Los Angeles.
At a Jan. 7 protest called “They Let Us Burn!,” Pratt referenced the Los Angeles wildfires that destroyed his home and criticized the city’s leadership, saying, “Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I’m done waiting for someone to take real action. That’s why I am running for mayor.” Los Angeles’ mayoral election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.
This episode highlights how public figures can quickly move from announcing intentions to refining campaigns — and how misunderstandings about election timelines can cause public confusion. Abraham’s shift from an early mayoral announcement to a city council bid leaves her focused on neighborhood-level issues and the August filing deadline.
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