News Summary
The San Antonio mayoral runoff election is set for June 7, featuring Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos. After a competitive May election, both candidates are gearing up for the final push to energize voters. Ortiz Jones received 27% of the votes while Pablos garnered 17%. The runoff marks the first open mayoral seat in San Antonio since 2009, as incumbent Mayor Ron Nirenberg is term-limited. Early voting results indicate a potential increase in voter turnout compared to May, making this election critical for the city’s future leadership.
San Antonio
The San Antonio mayoral runoff election is set for June 7, 2025, featuring candidates Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos, who emerged victorious from a field of 27 candidates in the May general election. Early voting results will be released at 7 p.m. on election day.
Ortiz Jones, a former Under Secretary of the United States Air Force and Democratic candidate with previous experience running for Congressional District 23, was the top vote-getter in the May 3 election, securing 27% of the votes, a significant lead over Pablos, who received 17%. Despite her strong performance, Ortiz Jones failed to achieve the necessary 50% majority for an outright victory.
Pablos, a former Texas Secretary of State and Public Utility Commissioner, has experience in state politics, having been appointed by Republican governors Greg Abbott and Rick Perry. Both candidates have continued their campaigns aggressively since the initial election, raising funds and participating in debates to enhance their visibility among voters.
The upcoming election is notable as it is the first open mayoral seat in San Antonio since 2009, following the term limits that prevent the incumbent Mayor Ron Nirenberg from running again. Nirenberg has refrained from endorsing either candidate, leaving the race wide open.
In the May election, voter turnout was surprisingly low, with only 116,604 out of 1,258,413 registered voters casting ballots. The runoff presents a critical opportunity for both candidates to boost voter participation. Early voting, however, has shown signs of improvement, with 98,412 voters taking part ahead of June 7—a 33.2% increase compared to early voting in the May election.
As the candidates prepared for the runoff, controversy arose when Pablos accused Ortiz Jones of violating debate rules by using her cell phone during one of their exchanges. The candidates faced off in a prime-time debate on KSAT on May 21, which allowed them to address voters directly and clarify their platforms.
Support has largely shifted towards candidates who are considered outsiders to city hall politics, contributing to the emergence of Pablos and Ortiz Jones as leading contenders. Other notable candidates, including several city council members and a former councilman who returned following a scandal, participated in the general election but did not advance to the runoff.
As Election Day approaches, the dynamics of the race reflect emerging ideological lines that influence campaigning strategies, despite its nonpartisan designation. Political science experts suggest that specific neighborhoods might favor Pablos, impacting the final turnout and vote distribution.
The winner of the runoff will inherit significant challenges, as the new mayor will need to navigate pressing issues of budget cuts or potential tax increases, relevant concerns that await immediate attention after the election. A charter amendment approved in 2024 established a four-year term for the city council, emphasizing the importance of this election in shaping San Antonio’s future.
With the San Antonio mayoral runoff less than a week away, both candidates are focused on energizing their voters and addressing the key issues facing the city.
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Additional Resources
- KSAT: San Antonio Mayoral Runoff Election Results
- Wikipedia: San Antonio
- KENS5: San Antonio Mayor Election Voter Turnout
- Google Search: San Antonio Mayoral Election 2025
- San Antonio Current: Mayoral Candidates in Virtual Tie
- Google Scholar: San Antonio Election 2025
- Axios: San Antonio Mayor Election Results Live
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Antonio Politics
- KSAT: All Runoff Election Results
- Google News: San Antonio Mayor Race 2025
