One of the last remaining Republican mayors of a big city is jumping back into the political arena after not seeking reelection.

Parker, the former chief of staff to retiring Mayor Betsy Price, declared victory in the runoff against Deborah Peoples, who recently stepped down as chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party.

A runoff will decide Fort Worth's first new mayor in a decade.

Local elections are happening across Texas on Saturday, some of which have drawn statewide — and even national — attention. Here are the four that we are watching most closely, plus a few other contests to keep in mind.

A Conversation with Betsy Price, Mayor of Fort WorthIn January, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price announced that she will not seek reelection at the end of her term. Join The Texas Tribune at noon Central on April 22 for a live interview with Price, moderated by Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith. AdRegister for the conversation herePrice was first elected to lead the city of Fort Worth in 2011. Before being elected mayor, Price served as Tarrant County’s tax assessor for more than a decade and was a business owner. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.

Tarrant County reported a pandemic high of more than 2100 new cases and nearly 800 hospitalizations Wednesday, the same day Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price tested positive for COVID-19. Price’s husband had tested positive for the virus just hours earlier. Public health officials are alarmed at the trends. On Tuesday, Vinny Taneja, the county’s public health director, issued a “public health warning” asking residents to help flatten the curve. In August, during the county’s previous peak, more than 4,000 residents tested positive per week.

Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneThe mayors of Texas' most populous cities described painful budget cuts with shortfalls of tens of millions of dollars stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. But they said they're worried that future budgets could be just as difficult to balance for years to come. The temporary closure of businesses and high levels of unemployment due to the pandemic have caused sales tax revenues which make up a significant portion of cities' budgets to plummet. Turner said the city took a hit of about $162 million but was able to avoid furloughing or permanently letting go of its employees. We suspended about $200 million worth of expenses in the middle of the fiscal year that we knew would help with the fund balance moving forward, he said.

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Abbott, Patrick and Bonnen will be joined by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Republican state Sens. Austin was the first to drastically cut police department funding. San Antonios proposed budget for 2021 increases overall police funding by $8 million, but cuts overtime and funds health and violence prevention programs. In Dallas, the proposed 2021 budget includes a minor increase in police funding and $3.2 million for social safety net resources.

Greg Abbott will give a briefing Tuesday afternoon in response to protests, which have ranged from peaceful to violent, in Texas. People dont talk about that. They dont talk about that. Theyre talking about a lot of other things, but they dont talk about that. Following Floyds death last week, peaceful protests in large cities have turned into chaotic violence at night.

Greg Abbott on Tuesday will address the state's response to the protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck until Floyd lost consciousness and for minutes afterward. While curfews were in effect Monday night in Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, officials in Texas expressed sympathy with the protesters' anger but also said there would be consequences for those who turn violent during demonstrations. Abbott will be joined Tuesday at the Dallas news conference by several local officials, including Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. The police chiefs of the two North Texas cities are also expected to be there. Watch live on Tuesday starting at 1 p.m. Central time, courtesy of KXAS-TV.

Shelby Tauber for The Texas TribuneDallas Mayor Eric Johnson blamed outsiders Tuesday for sparking violence among peaceful protests in Dallas over the past five days in response to the death of George Floyd. She said shes from Pleasant Grove a suburb just 10 miles from the downtown area but the officers claimed she wasnt from Dallas, Lpez Estrada said. No, Im from Dallas, Lpez Estrada said she responded. Lpez Estrada said Abbotts and Johnsons comments felt drafted and that the public officials are focusing on the wrong narrative. They keep talking about the looting, but they dont talk about the protest, Lpez Estrada said.