Former Galveston City Council member John Paul Listowski leads the race for mayor with 61% of early votes. This election matters because Galveston connects directly to Houston's economy and daily life. Thousands of Houston-area residents work on the island, visit its ports, or travel through for business and recreation. The mayor leads Galveston's city council and serves two-year terms, making decisions about public safety, flood protection, and business regulations that affect the broader Houston region. Listowski served on city council from 2018-2024, focusing on infrastructure, flood mitigation, and fiscal responsibility. His campaign priorities include managing short-term rental regulations and supporting small businesses. His challenger Marie Robb serves on the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which coordinates regional planning between our communities. Galveston's leadership affects Houston because we share the same bay system, hurricane evacuation routes, and economic partnerships. The port connects to Houston's shipping industry, and many of our neighbors commute between the cities. To stay informed about regional elections like this, follow Houston Public Media's election coverage. You can also attend Galveston City Council meetings or contact your Harris County representatives about regional issues that connect our communities across Galveston Bay.
Early voting results show former City of Galveston council member John Paul Listowski leading his two challengers in the race for mayor.
Results from the early voting period, when 4,244 votes were cast for mayor, were released by the Galveston County Clerk's Office after Election Day polls closed Saturday night. Listowski received 61% of the early vote compared to 36.2% for former council woman and mayor pro tem Marie Robb and 2.8% for candidate William Boike.
The mayor of Galveston presides over city council members. Mayors are elected to two-year terms and can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.
Listowski served three consecutive terms as a city council member in Galveston from 2018-2024. According to Listowski's campaign page, he was born on the island, left to attend college at Texas A&M University and returned back to Galveston.
According to his campaign page, the former council member’s priorities as mayor include fiscal responsibility, enforcing regulations for short-term rentals and supporting small businesses. Listowski received an endorsement from outgoing mayor Craig Brown.
"It’s exciting. We’ve worked super hard on this, and we came into this as somewhat of the underdog, and it’s great to see all the support in the community, and very excited for what’s to come," Listowski told Houston Public Media on Saturday evening.
Robb, who ran against Listowski, is the former District 6 council woman for the City of Galveston and serves as City of Galveston’s representative on the Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors, according to her campaign page.
Boike, who moved to Galveston seven years ago, ran on promises including lowering the cost of living and fighting rising property taxes.
Boike did not immediately respond for comment Saturday night. Robb told Houston Public Media she would provide a comment the day following the election.
