Elida S. Perez

Mayoral candidates and city Reps. Cassandra Hernandez, Isabel Salcido each won less than 10% of early votes Businessman Renard Johnson and city Rep.

Voters will determine key seats in city leadership during the Dec. 14 runoff election where the mayor and five city representative spots are up for a final vote.

The long-stalled Pellicano Drive widening project remains in limbo as a crucial court hearing did not render a conclusion this week.

The winner of the Dec. 14 mayoral runoff – Renard Johnson or Brian Kennedy – will have to manage the impact of Trump's promised immigration initiatives, including mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, while addressing city issues at the local level.

The two candidates vying to be El Paso's next mayor talked taxes, quality of life, economic development, immigration and other topics during a spirited forum Thursday that ended with them taking a few jabs at each other.

Voters will hit the polls one more time in the Dec. 14 runoff to elect El Paso's next mayor – either businessman Renard Johnson or attorney and city Rep. Brian Kennedy.

The Northeast El Paso land transfer with the company aiming to build an $80 million 12,500-seat amphitheater on 15 acres of city-owned property remains on hold, which could delay the anticipated March 2026 opening.

Businessman Renard Johnson has cleared the $1 million mark in campaign fundraising in the El Paso mayoral race, dwarfing the largely self-funded campaign of his opponent, city Rep. Brian Kennedy.

Businessman Renard Johnson has been elected El Paso's next mayor, taking a significant lead over city Rep. Brian Kennedy in early voting with a margin that's unlikely to close with Election Day votes.

Yellow smiley faces, red hearts and colorful rainbows drawn in chalk on the sidewalk of Chihuahua Street show remnants of activity in the neighborhood where the Downtown arena was once to be built.