Travis County Judge Rules Against Austin Convention Center Petition

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Travis County district judge has sided with the city of Austin in a lawsuit challenging its rejection of a petition that sought to force a public vote on the future of the city's $1.6 billion convention center expansion project. The judge ruled against the petition lawsuit brought by the Austin United PAC, which argued the city clerk improperly disqualified hundreds of signatures and failed to disclose key information about the signature verification process.

Why it matters

This ruling is a major setback for opponents of the convention center expansion, who were hoping to give voters a say on the controversial project. The city has pushed forward with the expansion plans despite vocal opposition from some residents and advocacy groups concerned about the cost and impact on the surrounding area.

The details

In December, the Austin United PAC sued the city, arguing that City Clerk Erika Brady improperly invalidated its petition to allow voters to decide whether to halt construction on the convention center expansion. The plaintiffs contended that hundreds of signatures were wrongly disqualified and that the city failed to properly disclose information about the signature verification process.

• On Friday, February 7, 2026, Travis County District Judge Jessica Mangrum issued her ruling in favor of the city of Austin.
• The lawsuit trial wrapped up last week, with the judge indicating she would issue a decision before the February 9 deadline for the Austin City Council to call an election for the May ballot.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Austin United PAC is exploring options to appeal the judge's ruling, which upholds the city's rejection of the petition to force a public vote on the convention center expansion project.