Denton residents will see a Dec. 12 runoff election for the Place 1 seat on the City Council after Kris Cox secured the second spot by just one vote over fellow challenger Michael Herron. The runoff will determine who joins incumbent Sunny Busby, a result that could shape council decisions through May 2027.
According to Community Impact, the unofficial results released after the Nov. 3 election showed Busby leading with 3,196 votes (42.76%). Cox received 1,551 votes (20.75%) and Herron received 1,550 votes (20.74%), a difference of a single vote. Ward Franz trailed with 1,178 votes (15.76%). Because no candidate surpassed the 50% threshold, the top two vote‑getters advance to a runoff.
The race originated from a special election triggered when former District 1 council member Jordan Villarreal resigned on July 30, less than three months after winning the seat in May. Villarreal’s departure followed Vicki Byrd’s decision to leave the council seat to run for a Denton ISD trustee position.
City officials will canvass the Nov. 3 results at the Nov. 17 City Council meeting. If the results are certified, council members are expected to formally call for the runoff, which is scheduled for Dec. 12. Voter registration for the runoff closes on Nov. 12, and early voting is set for Nov. 30 through Dec. 8, according to the Denton County Elections Administration.
What’s next: Denton voters should verify their registration by Nov. 12 and consider casting an early ballot between Nov. 30 and Dec. 8. The certified results from the Nov. 3 election will be confirmed at the Nov. 17 council meeting, after which the city will issue the official runoff ballot and polling locations. The winner will serve the remainder of the term ending May 2027, with the seat appearing again on the ballot in the 2026 municipal election.
Sources: communityimpact.com
