Most of us are likely unaware, but our city is on the brink of major change in just a few weeks. Usually, ignorance is bliss, but given the magnitude of what’s currently at stake, it’s crucial that everyone not only is informed about who’s running for mayor, but also that we show up to vote.
Our recent general election on May 3 told us two important things. First, almost no one voted. Only 9% of registered voters made a decision that effectively impacted the other 91%.* While we can hope the runoff brings higher turnout, it’s unlikely to match the numbers we’ll see in November. This is ironic, considering local elections often have a far greater impact on our everyday lives.
Second, the voters who did show up sent a clear message, and that message was one of rejection. San Antonio voters rejected a city council that failed to unify behind a mayoral candidate and turned away moderate contenders who didn’t come from a direct background in public service. The result is a hyper-partisan runoff unlike anything San Antonio has seen before, establishing a potentially dangerous precedent for future elections.
Regardless, the stage is now set: Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos will face off in the runoff on June 7.
Gina Ortiz Jones served as the Under Secretary of the Air Force from 2021 to 2023, and Rolando Pablos served as Texas Secretary of State from 2017 to 2018. While neither hails from San Antonio’s City Council, both bring leadership experience from prominent appointed roles, and that leadership is part of what propelled them forward in May.
On May 3, Gina Ortiz Jones secured 27% of the vote, with Rolando Pablos trailing in second at 16%.* With an 11-point lead, it might seem like this race is already decided, right?
Not so fast. Consider this: In 2017, Ivy Taylor led Ron Nirenberg in the general election 42% to 37%.* And in 2005, Julián Castro had a 12-point lead over Phil Hardberger, 42% to 30%.* Despite those margins, neither frontrunner went on to win the runoff. Does that guarantee a similar upset this year? Not necessarily. The general election is often about building name recognition and identifying viable candidates. There’s still room for error, especially for new campaigns.
But the runoff is less forgiving.
For five weeks, every aspect of a candidate’s life is examined under a relentless social microscope. Who you know, what you’ve done, who people think you know, your family’s connections, your funding sources, your lunch companions, your team’s actions, your reactions to public scrutiny, and more…all intel is fair game for public consumption, broadcast on the biggest screens in town.
It’s invasive, and undoubtedly exhausting. No matter who you support, it’s hard not to respect the courage it takes to step into this level of scrutiny.
The general election should tell each finalist two things. Let’s use Gina Ortiz Jones as an example, though the same applies to Rolando Pablos. Your core supporters made up 27% of those who voted. That’s a strong base likely to return in the runoff. But it also means 73% of voters didn’t choose you, and your task now is to win over as many of them as possible.
Given the partisan nature of this race, endorsements are expected from aligned parties and organizations. That’s standard. What’s less expected are the cross-party endorsements now beginning to surface.
Notably, the San Antonio Express-News editorial board endorsed Rolando Pablos, stating, “Pablos offers a compelling vision for economic development and job creation that would build on progress the city has made on workforce development and early childhood education.”*
This piece is not an endorsement of either candidate. It’s a reminder. If you assume your preferred candidate will cruise to victory, think again. Early voting ends today, June 3, and election day is this Saturday, June 7. The more of us who participate, the more representative and informed our decision will be in choosing the right mayor for San Antonio.
Until then, the Countdown City counts down the days until our next leader is chosen.
Sources
San Antonio Express-News endorsement of Rolando Pablos:
https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorials/article/rolando-pablos-mayor-endorsement-19489657.php
Voter turnout data from May 3 election:
https://ballotpedia.org/San_Antonio,_Texas
May 3, 2025, general election results:
https://ballotpedia.org/San_Antonio,_Texas_Mayoral_runoff_election,_2025
2017 general and runoff results (Ivy Taylor vs. Ron Nirenberg):
https://ballotpedia.org/Ron_Nirenberg
2005 general and runoff results (Julián Castro vs. Phil Hardberger):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_San_Antonio_mayoral_election