Goodwin Quits DA Office to Run for Council

Former Travis County assistant district attorney Amber Goodwin is campaigning full time for Austin's District 1 council seat.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

Wide photograph of a pale limestone and glass civic building across an open plaza, with live oaks and a clear blue sky under warm late-afternoon light. — Former Travis County assistant district attorney Amber Goodwin resigned Sept. 1 to campaign full time for Austin's District 1 council seat, vacated by Natasha Harper-Madison in January. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Amber Goodwin resigned as a Travis County assistant district attorney on Sept. 1 to campaign full time for the District 1 seat on the Austin City Council. Natasha Harper-Madison will vacate the seat in January.

Why it matters

Goodwin would be the fifth lawyer on the council if elected, and her fundraising lead in the six-candidate field signals a competitive race. City rules cap outside-donor contributions at $50,000 per election, which shapes how candidates raise money.

Goodwin led the six-candidate field with $123,010 raised as of Oct. 28, more than Ramos at $65,263 and Brown at $38,089. As assistant DA she earned $92,800 a year, compared with $135,179 for council members, and the city caps outside-donor contributions at $50,000 per election.

The players

Amber Goodwin

Goodwin is a former Travis County assistant district attorney and candidate for Austin's District 1 council seat, who was convicted of obstructing highway passage in 2007.

Natasha Harper-Madison

Harper-Madison is the current District 1 Austin council member who will vacate the seat in January.

The details

Goodwin joined the DA's office as a law clerk in August 2021 and was appointed assistant DA in May 2022 before resigning on Sept. 1 to focus on her campaign, which has hired Alberto "Skip" Vasquez as campaign manager. Her campaign has paid Hernandez Wick Campaigns $9,000 in retainers.

Goodwin joined the DA's office as a law clerk in August 2021.
Goodwin was appointed assistant DA in May 2022.
Goodwin resigned as assistant DA on Sept. 1.
Natasha Harper-Madison will vacate the District 1 seat in January.
Fundraising totals were reported as of Oct. 28.

Political Context

If elected, Goodwin would become the fifth lawyer on the Austin City Council, adding to a body where legal backgrounds are already common. Her candidacy comes as the council's District 1 seat opens with Harper-Madison's departure in January.

Austin voters in District 1 will choose a new council member to replace Harper-Madison, and the outcome will depend on whether the race reaches a runoff. Residents following the race can track candidate fundraising, since city rules limit outside-donor contributions to $50,000 per election.

The takeaway

Local races are increasingly shaped by fundraising rules and candidate backgrounds, so voters in Austin's District 1 can compare campaign finance reports and candidate records before the election.