AUSTIN (KXAN) — Kirk Watson was elected as Austin’s next mayor in Tuesday’s runoff election.

The runoff was a tight race between Celia Israel and Kirk Watson. Both mayoral candidates received the most votes in the Nov. 8 election, but neither got more than 50%, triggering a runoff. Israel received the most votes in the general election, picking up a majority in many east and south Austin precincts. Watson won precincts in west Austin during that election.

In the runoff election, Watson won by a small margin — just 886 votes, or 0.78% of all votes. Israel won Travis County by 17 votes.

“When we choose to work together, Austin’s future will get brighter and brighter and brighter. I promise,” Watson said.

“If I hadn’t had raised my voice and said, ‘This is not my Austin,’ we would not have had the results that we had tonight. We would not have woke people up the way that we did tonight, as exemplified by this group,” Israel said after losing the race.

Mayor race blog

11:01 p.m.

10:50 p.m.

The race between Watson and Israel was extremely close. Watson actually lost in Travis County by 17 votes. The next mayor won Williamson County by 881 votes, which proved to be the difference.

9:46 p.m.

KXAN projects Kirk Watson wins the Austin mayoral runoff race. Watson led with 50.39% of the votes and Israel 49.61%. That’s a lead of 886 votes, or 0.78%, with 100% of the votes counted.

9:27 p.m.

With an estimated 82% of votes reported, Watson’s lead over Israel increases slightly. He’s now ahead by just over 2,000 votes and polling at 51.09%. Israel is polling at 48.91%.

8:53 p.m.

Polling numbers are closer, with Watson leading by 1,820 votes and polling at 50.98%. Israel is polling at 49.02%.

So far, about 81% of the votes have been counted.

8:30 p.m.

Celia Israel arrives at her watch party.

7:48 p.m.

Kirk Watson arrives at his watch party.

7:08 p.m.

First results show Watson leading Israel by about 3,000 votes. Watson is polling at 52% and Israel at 48%.

Both Israel and Watson have experience in the Texas legislature — she in the House and he in the Senate. Israel has outlined housing and affordability as some of her top priorities, in addition to mobility and reproductive choice.

Watson also considers affordability and transportation to be important, and also outlined public safety, homelessness issues and systemic racism in a campaign introduction email. Each discussed their stances on topics that impact Austinites during a debate at KXAN on Dec. 1.