Farrah Abraham announced a mayoral run in Austin, Texas, then promptly withdrew after discovering the next election is in 2028.
The Teen Mom alum, 34, told TMZ on January 15 that she had filed paperwork for the race the day before-only to learn on-air that the contest is two years away.
At a Glance
- Abraham filed for Austin mayor, then pulled out when told the race is in 2028
- She refiled the same day for District 5 city council
- The filing deadline for council is August 18
- Why it matters: A reality-TV face could reshape local housing and worker policies
Mayor Bid Lasts Minutes
“I’m super excited to be a candidate for mayor of Austin,” Abraham said during the live interview. “I’m running super early, so I can’t wait to see whose going to be run with me and challenge me.”
Host Harvey Levin asked why she was moving so far ahead. Abraham replied she believed the election was in 2026 and claimed the city secretary’s office gave her that date.
“I just know what my city has told me,” she said, adding that other local elections are happening this year.
After the on-air correction, she shrugged off the misfire: “I loved that I jumped the gun.”
Pivot to City Council
Hours later, in an interview with Austin’s KXAN, Abraham said her team refiled the paperwork to run for District 5 city council.
“I reached out to the city and I just was like, ‘Hey, I’m very serious about this … I love this city and I want to get involved in and help where I live and breathe,'” she told the outlet.
She added she would serve in both posts simultaneously “if I could be a district seat and I could be mayor at the same time.”
Platform and Local Knowledge Gaps
Abraham, who moved to Austin from Nebraska in 2013, listed housing affordability and support for self-employed creatives as top priorities.
Yet when asked who currently holds the District 5 seat, she admitted: “I don’t even know who’s in District 5, maybe their names just like aren’t big names or something.”
“People definitely are not enthused with people who are in charge of the city or districts or mayor,” she said.
Reality-TV Politicians Trend
Abraham’s announcement follows The Hills alum Spencer Pratt declaring his 2026 Los Angeles mayoral bid earlier this month.
Pratt, 42, cited the LA fires-which destroyed the home he shares with wife Heidi Montag-while launching his campaign at a “They Let Us Burn!” protest.
“The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling, it’s fundamentally broken,” he told the crowd among the remains of his Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Key Dates
- Austin city council filing deadline: August 18
- Los Angeles mayoral election: June 2, 2026
Abraham’s campaign now centers on the District 5 council seat, promising voters “a better life in Austin.”
