New Braunfels announced it will hold a runoff election for the mayor’s office following confusion over the results of the May 2 election.
The confusion occurred after the city attorney received notice from legal counsel that a conflict exists between a city charter ordinance requiring only a plurality vote for candidates and Texas’ Constitution, which requires a majority vote when the office’s term exceeds two years. New Braunfels mayors serve three-year terms.
Incumbent Neal Linnartz received 38 percent of the vote and challenger Michael French received 49 percent.
A day after the mayoral race had been called a victory for French, Mayor Pro-Tem Lawrence Spradley posted on social media that an announcement was coming regarding the results of the election.
The subsequent release explained the issue with the conflicting requirements.
French and Linnartz will now head into a runoff election, along with the District 6 City Council race.
Linnartz posted on social media that the city attorney’s office is at fault for the confusion, as clarification had been sought on the issue prior to the May 2 election.
“In 2020, the City Attorney was tasked with reviewing the entire New Braunfels City Charter to ensure it complied with state law,” wrote Linnartz. “In the case of the recent mayoral election, approximately two weeks before Election Day, the City Attorney was asked whether the office of mayor is elected by majority or plurality vote.”
He continued to explain that a legal opinion was even issued by the City Attorney’s Office that stated that the election was to be decided by a plurality vote.
“It has become evident that no outside legal opinion was sought and that applicable state law was not researched or analyzed in reaching that incorrect conclusion,” continued Linnartz.
According to the New Braunfels Herald-Zeiting, the city council approved incorporating city charter amendments related to complying with state and federal law in May 2021, but maintained that the city mayor race would be decided by plurality votes.
In February 2026, the city passed an ordinance that called for “the election for mayor and Districts 5 and 6, which stated that the mayoral race was to be won by plurality.”
Toni Carter, New Braunfels City Council Member for District 1, posted on social media that she is asking for “true answers” to the reason why the situation occurred. She says that “this is not a one person failure” and she refuses “to allow anyone to become a convenient scapegoat.”
She also argued that there are other issues that have not received attention, alleging that at some point the language changed in the city ordinance from requiring a majority vote to a plurality vote.
“My goal is not political theater,” continued Carter. “My goal is to correct this issue at its root, ensure a fully vetted solution, and restore confidence in the integrity of the process.”
Carter said she will also be “contacting State officials to request support and oversight.”
No date has been set for the runoff yet.
A meeting at City Hall is scheduled for Monday, May 11 at 6 p.m.
