Everyone who filed to be San Antonio's next mayor
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Photo Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios; Photo: Courtesy of City of San Antonio
Nearly 30 people have applied for a place on the ballot in the open race to be San Antonio's next mayor.
Why it matters: The May 3 election will feature one of the longest mayoral ballots local voters have seen in a while, with more than double the number of candidates in the 2023 election.
- With so many people for voters to choose from, candidates need to stand out. There will be a runoff in June if no candidate earns more than 50% of the vote — a likely scenario.
The latest: Candidate filings closed Friday.
The big picture: The mayoral election will be the first in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot.
- The new mayor will serve a four-year term, instead of two years, after voters approved a charter amendment changing the limits.
Context: Mayor Ron Nirenberg reaches his term limit this year and, as long as he finishes his term as expected, will be the longest-serving mayor the city has seen since Henry Cisneros in the '80s. Nirenberg took office in 2017.
Reality check: The mayor is a nonpartisan position, but the political leanings of candidates are often clear.
By the numbers: As of the Friday deadline, 27 people filed for mayoral candidacy.
The candidates who have gained attention for either their fundraising or name recognition, in alphabetical order, are:
- Beto Altamirano: A tech entrepreneur from the Rio Grande Valley.
- John Courage: The District 9 councilmember representing the North Side had said he would drop out of the race, citing health concerns. But he jumped back in right before the deadline. The longtime Democrat is known for his ability to win in a conservative-leaning district.
- Adriana Rocha Garcia: The District 4 councilmember from the Southwest Side is a marketing professor who has been vocal about the lack of access to health care resources in Hispanic neighborhoods.
- Melissa Cabello Havrda: The District 6 councilmember representing the Far West Side has straddled the divide as a pro-business official who has also advocated for more liberal priorities like using public funds for abortion travel.
- Gina Ortiz Jones: A former Air Force intelligence officer who rose to become its under secretary and was twice the Democratic nominee for the 23rd Congressional District.
- Robert T. Melvin: The former chair of San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE) has also worked for former Gov. Rick Perry.
- Rolando Pablos: The former Texas secretary of state has also served as a senior adviser to Gov. Greg Abbott.
- Manny Pelaez: The District 8 councilmember representing the Northwest Side focuses on economic and business growth, and domestic violence prevention. He's known as an outspoken official who has rankled progressives.
- Clayton Perry: The former District 10 councilmember, a conservative whose council career was cut short after he faced charges in connection with drunken driving and a hit-and-run crash. He often focused on infrastructure improvements and fiscal conservatism.
- Tim Westley: A U.S. Army veteran and former pastor who has worked as a historian for the Republican Party of Texas.
Other candidates who filed, in alphabetical order, are:
- Santos Alvarado
- Armando Dominguez
- Arturo Espinosa
- Brandon Gonzales
- April Guadarrama
- Chris Herring
- Jade McCullough
- James "Jae" Melvin
- Christopher Reyes
- Bill Ruppel
- Robert Salinas
- Michael "Sam" Samaniego
- Mauricio Mau Sanchez
- Sonia Traut
- Diana Flores Uriegas
- Andrew Fernandez Vicencio
- G Zambrano
What's next: The next round of campaign finance reports are due April 3, which is also the last day to register to vote in the election.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Gina Ortiz Jones served the Air Force not only as an intelligence officer but as its under secretary.