Jones, Pablos to face June 7 runoff in San Antonio mayoral race

Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos are leading in San Antonio's crowded mayoral race and are headed to a June 7 runoff, as no candidate secured an outright majority among the 27 contenders. Both candidates are political outsiders, marking the first time since 2005 that the city may elect a mayor without prior City Council experience. Ortiz Jones, a Democrat and former Under Secretary of the Air Force, would become San Antonio's first LGBTQIA+ mayor if elected, while Pablos, a Republican with ties to Gov. Greg Abbott, benefited notably from outside funding. Polls and early returns consistently showed Jones in the lead, with Pablos trailing but maintaining a solid second place. Voter turnout was low, similar to previous municipal elections, and the contest will determine who succeeds outgoing Mayor Ron Nirenberg, with the winner set to serve a newly-extended four-year term. Polling suggests Jones has a significant advantage in a runoff against Pablos, while both benefited from substantial national and outside financial support.