Garland’s May 2 city election is down to one contested council race. What District 5 voters need to know
Garland TX – Most city voters will not see a contested council race on May 2. District 5 is the only active Garland City Council election still on the ballot.
Garland’s May 2 city election is much smaller than many voters may expect.
The city formally canceled City Council races in Districts 1, 2, and 4 after only one candidate filed in each contest. That leaves District 5 as Garland’s only contested City Council race this spring.
For residents, the practical takeaway is simple: most Garland voters will not see a competitive city council race on the ballot. The only contested council election is for people who live in District 5.
What changed on the ballot
Under Ordinance No. 7653, Garland canceled the District 1, District 2, and District 4 elections because the candidates were unopposed. The ordinance also declared those candidates elected: Jimmy Tran in District 1, Justin Caraway in District 2, and Christina Segoviano in District 4.
That action did not affect District 5, where three candidates filed. The City of Garland election page lists Forest Bryant, Margaret Lucht, and Paul Dollar as the candidates in Garland’s only remaining contested council race.
The city’s election records make clear that this was not a cancellation tied to turnout or interest in voting generally. The reason was narrower: Garland law allows unopposed races to be canceled and the candidates declared elected.
Who still votes in a city council race
If you do not live in District 5, you should not expect a contested Garland City Council race on your ballot.
If you do live in District 5, your vote will decide whether the race ends on May 2 or continues to a runoff. In a year with only one active council contest, that district-level race carries more weight than the citywide ballot might suggest at first glance.
How voting works in Garland
Garland uses county election systems, which matters because the city spans both Dallas and Collin counties. The city’s election ordinance says polling places are established by the Dallas County Elections Administrator for Dallas County residents and by the Collin County Elections Administrator for Collin County residents.
Early voting starts Monday, April 20, 2026. There is no voting on Tuesday, April 21, because of the San Jacinto Day holiday. Election Day is Saturday, May 2, 2026.
County-specific details matter. Garland’s election materials say Dallas County voters can use countywide voting locations. The ordinance also notes some early-voting differences for Collin County voters: Saturday, April 25 has shorter hours there, and Sunday, April 26 early voting is not available in Collin County.
That means Garland voters should check their county-specific sample ballot, polling place, and hours before heading out. For a city split across two counties, that step is more important than usual.
Why a June runoff is possible
Garland does not use a simple plurality rule for City Council. The election ordinance requires the winner to receive a majority of votes cast for the office.
In a three-candidate District 5 race, that means a runoff is possible if nobody gets more than half the vote on May 2. If that happens, the ordinance sets the runoff date for Saturday, June 13, 2026.
So the big local story is not a crowded citywide ballot. It is the opposite: Garland’s council election narrowed to one live race, and only District 5 voters will decide whether it is settled in May or stretches into June.
Sources
- City of Garland Elections page
- City of Garland May 2, 2026 General Election page
- Garland ordinance canceling Districts 1, 2, and 4 elections
- Garland ordinance ordering the 2026 general election
- Dallas Morning News May 2026 voter guide
- Dallas Morning News Garland City Council District 5 Q&A
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