The reason Austin is so blue, is that the city council is elected by the entire city. The new single member districts will change the makeup for the future. All the gray hairs and hippies in west Austin vote in every election. Same with the "where is my free stuff" voters east of IH 35.
The mayor will be the only member elected "at large" in the future. Most conservative voters have stayed home in past elections, since they knew their votes meant little or nothing. Last city election had just over 10% turnout.
Thanks, I did not know about the at large elections.
Explains a lot of the insanity.