Unofficial early voting tallies from May 2 have attorney Kate Ivers, nonprofit consultant Jennifer Blackman, and incumbent Diane Hern out front in Eanes ISD’s three contested trustee races. The early edge suggests at least one new face could join the district’s seven-member board as officials continue to add ballots to the count.
Travis County early voting returns put Ivers ahead in Place 1 with 1,722 votes (54.72%) to Afshan Khan’s 1,343 (42.68%) and Robert Morrow’s 82 (2.61%). Blackman led Place 2 with 1,638 votes (52.27%) to incumbent Laura Clark’s 1,496 (47.73%), and Hern led Place 3 with 1,603 votes (51.96%) to Swasti Apte’s 1,482 (48.04%), according to Community Impact.
What’s at stake for the district
Eanes educates roughly 7,600 students and is confronting a projected multimillion-dollar shortfall next year, which makes budget priorities central to this election. The district’s anticipated $5.5 million gap, and how trustees plan to address teacher pay, programs, and facilities were frequent topics in candidate forums and local coverage. ExpressNews reported those pressures as a dominant theme across the contests.
Next steps and official counts
All tallies published on election night are unofficial until Travis County canvases and certifies results and final totals are posted on the county’s results portal. Voters and campaigns will be watching the county’s official feed for updates as mail ballots and provisional ballots are added; see the Travis County results portal for the latest numbers at Travis County.
Candidates and their priorities
Kate Ivers campaigned as an attorney, and Eanes' parent focused on fiscal oversight and teacher retention, while Jennifer Blackman emphasized budget stewardship and classroom support. Incumbent Diane Hern, first elected in 2023, ran on continuity and community engagement. Other contenders, Afshan Khan, Robert Morrow, and Swasti Apte highlighted mental health services, local experience, and fiscal accountability in their campaigns, according to Community Impact.
Why local voters are watching
Eanes trustees are elected at large, so winners represent the entire district, and the board’s makeup will shape spending and program priorities across West Austin and surrounding neighborhoods. The outcome could influence how the district navigates its budget, staffing, and any future facility or program decisions in the coming school year. More information on the district is available at Eanes ISD.
