David Pfaff Wins Irving City Council Seat in Runoff Election
IRVING — Residents elected David Pfaff on Saturday in a runoff for an at-large City Council seat, according to unofficial final returns, capping a race fueled by heavy outside spending and viewed by some as a proxy fight over the future of gambling in Texas.
The high-dollar race for District 2 pitted two political newcomers: Pfaff, a retired business owner and former chamber of commerce chairman who says he’s doubtful gambling would ever be legalized, and Sergio Porres, an IT consultant who built his campaign around opposing the Las Vegas Sands Corp. proposal to build a casino resort in Irving.
Speaking to supporters at his watch party, Pfaff credited his volunteers for helping carry him to victory and thanked his supporters, including the Irving Professional Fire Fighters Association.
“I didn’t feel like I was ever alone,” Pfaff said late Saturday, addressing dozens of people at a Las Colinas Country Club ballroom. “I didn’t feel like the weight of the world was on my shoulders because I had the weight of you with me the whole way — and it was a beautiful time for me.”
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He ended his speech with two words: “Thank you.”
David Pfaff shares a hug and a kiss with his wife Sharon Pfaff as late results were announced giving him a substantial lead over opponent Sergio Porres. The runoff election watch party was held at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, on June 7, 2025. (Steve Hamm / Special Contributor)
Unofficial early voting returns showed Pfaff leading Porres by about 160 votes — a margin that widened as Saturday’s ballots were counted. Final returns saw Pfaff with 53% of the vote to Porres’ 47%, the margin growing to more than 500 votes.
A few miles away from the country club, Porres attended a watch party at the home of an editor for Blaze Media, a conservative news outlet. A reporter from The Dallas Morning News was not allowed to attend.
In a statement through a campaign official early Sunday, Porres said the coalition of families, faith communities and residents that backed his candidacy had worked to “protect our city from casino interests and stand for values that matter.”
“We may not have won the seat, but like Las Vegas Sands isn’t backing down, neither are we,” the statement reads. “This movement is only growing, and we’re just getting started.”
Sergio Porres discusses his campaign shortly after the close of the voting polls in his runoff race against David Pfaff on June 7, 2025. (Steve Hamm / Special Contributor)
The Candidates and Their Positions
David Pfaff, a retired business owner and former chamber of commerce chairman, expressed skepticism about the possibility of gambling being legalized in Texas. He also stated that the City Council should not have considered the amended ordinance requested by Las Vegas Sands for its plans near the former Texas Stadium site.
Sergio Porres, an IT consultant, built his campaign around opposing the Las Vegas Sands Corp. proposal to build a casino resort in Irving. He received notable financial backing ahead of the runoff, reporting nearly $110,000 in contributions between April 24 and May 28.
The Resort Proposal and Its Impact
The proposal by Las Vegas Sands Corp. to build a “destination resort” near the old Texas Stadium site drew hundreds of critics to city meetings where officials were considering a zoning amendment that included provisions for gambling.
The pushback, in part, led the casino giant to ask the City Council to strip the gambling portion of the proposal. The amended ordinance then passed in two separate 6-3 votes.
Miriam Adelson, whose family owns Las Vegas Sands casinos and bought a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks in 2023, has poured millions into political donations in Texas in a push to legalize gambling — something that fell short in the Texas Legislature during this year’s session.
