One of Austin’s newest elected officials is a pug Chihuahua mix named Mo Bamba. The three year old rescue dog was officially inaugurated last week as mayor of 37th Street near Hyde Park after winning the neighborhood’s annual pet mayoral election.

Organizers tallied more than 12,000 ballots before certifying the results, more than double the turnout of previous years. Mo Bamba defeated incumbent Mayor Zapp, an orange cat who served two terms, in a closely watched and occasionally contentious race that included campaign posters, playful smears, and even allegations of voter fraud that were ultimately dismissed.

“Only in America could a little puppy born on the border with parvo make it all the way to becoming mayor of 37th Street,” said campaign manager Spencer Schumacher during the acceptance speech.

The pet mayoral election is now in its fourth year and is held alongside the famous 37th Street Lights holiday display. Organizer Maddy Braat said the tradition began in 2022 as a way to boost civic engagement during Austin’s human mayoral race.

Mo Bamba, adopted from a Round Rock rescue by Spencer and Erin Schumacher, is named after the song “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes. Known for playing fetch in his yard, he became a familiar and popular sight for visitors to the street this winter.

The role of 37th Street mayor comes with responsibilities, including greeting neighbors, watching birds and squirrels, and symbolically protecting the holiday lights. Mo Bamba’s tongue in cheek platform includes installing fire hydrants at every house and awarding government contracts to people who play fetch.

“He wants to fight for the people,” Spencer said. “He will not just fight for you, he will bark at you.”

The new mayor is also encouraging Austinites to participate in upcoming human elections. Erin Schumacher reminded residents that voting matters, noting that the deadline to register to vote in the March 3 Texas primary is Feb. 2.

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Kayla Kissel

Kayla Kissel is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she studied broadcast journalism and political science. She’s passionate about storytelling that uplifts, informs, and inspires. At Majically News, Kayla hopes to bring a blend of strong journalistic values and feel-good energy, driven by her belief that everyone has a story worth telling.

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