News Summary
San Antonio will witness a runoff election on June 7, 2025, after no candidate received the required 50% of votes in the initial mayoral election on May 3. Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos emerged as the leading candidates. Voter turnout was notably low at 9.26%, the lowest since 2013, raising concerns about future voter engagement. The election coincided with the Fiesta Flambeau Parade, highlighting community involvement amid a significant political shift following the departure of incumbent Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
San Antonio is heading for a runoff election following the mayoral election held on May 3, 2025. Former U.S. Air Force Undersecretary Gina Ortiz Jones and former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos emerged as the leading candidates, garnering 27.2% and 16.61% of the votes, respectively. Since no candidate achieved the necessary 50% of the vote, a runoff is scheduled for June 7, 2025.
The recent election saw an alarmingly low voter turnout of 9.26%, the lowest percentage recorded for a mayoral election in San Antonio since 2013. This drop in participation is notable when considering prior elections, where engagement levels were comparatively higher. The office of mayor and new City Council members will serve a four-year term, following a charter amendment approved by voters.
Third place in the election went to tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano, who received 12.42% of the votes in his inaugural run for public office. Other candidates included City Council members: Adriana Rocha Garcia (District 4) with 9.89%, Manny Pelaez (District 8) at 7.31%, Melissa Cabello Havrda (District 6) earning 6.66%, and John Courage (District 9) with 5.56%. This election had a total of 27 candidates, marking it as having the highest number of contenders in recent San Antonio history.
With the incumbent mayor, Ron Nirenberg, leaving office after four terms due to term limits set by city charter, the race was expected to be critical in shaping the direction of the city. Ortiz Jones had led local opinion polls prior to Election Day, maintaining an eight-point lead over Pablos, which indicates a strong support base leading into the runoff.
In addition to the political significance, the mayoral election coincided with the Fiesta Flambeau Parade, one of San Antonio’s largest annual events, which typically draws extensive community engagement and participation.
Poll data during the election suggested that early voter turnout in Bexar County was 5.89%, which signified a significant decline compared to previous elections. Many political analysts are considering the implications of this low turnout on the election outcomes and on voter engagement in future races.
As the candidates prepare for the upcoming runoff, Ortiz Jones expressed gratitude towards her supporters and indicated plans to celebrate with her team after the elections. Meanwhile, Pablos highlighted the public’s call for change and described the next month as a challenging “battle royale” as both candidates gear up for the decisive contest.
Upon conclusion of the runoff election on June 7, 2025, the victor will be sworn in on June 18, while those who secured outright victories on May 3 will be inaugurated on June 1.
The San Antonio mayoral race is shaping up to be pivotal, particularly in light of significant developments in the area, including large-scale projects such as Project Marvel. Observers note that the outcome of the upcoming runoff could have lasting effects on the city’s future trajectory and governance.
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HERE Resources
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San Antonio Prepares for Mayoral Election on May 3
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Additional Resources
- KSAT News
- Wikipedia: San Antonio mayoral election 2025
- Express News
- Google Search: San Antonio mayoral election 2025
- KENS5 News
- Google Scholar: San Antonio political analysts
- Axios San Antonio
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Antonio mayoral election 2025
- San Antonio Current
- Google News: San Antonio mayoral election 2025
