The vibrant culture of San Antonio on display in a bustling street scene.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is ramping up fundraising efforts as he prepares for potential political shifts following his term. Recently, he announced that San Antonio will host the 2025 HBCU All Star Basketball Game, highlighting the city’s vibrant culture. While he has no interest in the county judge position, speculation surrounds the upcoming 2026 Democratic primary. With fundraising events starting soon, Nirenberg remains dedicated to promoting San Antonio while various public figures eye his potential mayoral seat.
Hey, San Antonio! There’s a buzz in the air as our beloved Mayor Ron Nirenberg makes headlines with some exciting news and busy plans. If you missed it, he recently announced that San Antonio will be the official host city for the highly anticipated 2025 HBCU All Star Basketball Game. This announcement came during a press conference on November 6, 2024, and it’s just one of the ways Nirenberg is showcasing the vibrant culture and community spirit here in our city.
Now, onto the hustle! Mayor Nirenberg is in the final stretch of his fourth term, and he’s kicking it into high gear with fundraising efforts to keep his campaign bank account in good shape. It seems there’s a bit of speculation swirling around about what his future holds, particularly regarding a potential candidacy against Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai in the upcoming 2026 Democratic primary. While there’s chatter about what might be next for him, he’s been clear that he has “no interest” in stepping into the county judge position.
The first fundraiser on the calendar is set for February 5 and will be hosted by none other than retired AT&T CEO, Ed Whitacre. While some might think this event is an effort to stash away cash for future campaigns, Nirenberg has stressed that the funds are meant to support city advocacy efforts instead. So what does that entail? The money raised will help with travel expenses for attending conferences and events aimed at promoting our beloved San Antonio. And here’s a little fact: these expenses will be funded from his campaign account rather than the city budget. That’s a commitment to transparency!
Speaking of funding, Nirenberg’s campaign account has seen better days. He reportedly has just a few thousand dollars left, a sharp decline from over $3,500 as of December 31. Looking at the numbers, Nirenberg raised about $2,600 in the last six months of 2024 but ended up spending nearly $29,000 during that same period. Ouch! A significant chunk of that spending—about a third—went toward attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago where he made a splash as a speaker.
As Nirenberg remains focused on his job until his term ends in June 2025, the political drama doesn’t stop there! Meanwhile, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai is gearing up for re-election and could find himself in a bit of a pickle, considering he doesn’t face term limits. This dynamic could complicate ongoing talks regarding public financing for a new Spurs arena. San Antonio has been eying a shiny new downtown arena, which would cause the Spurs to relocate from the county-owned Frost Bank Center. You can bet people are keeping their eyes peeled on how this all plays out!
With Nirenberg’s exit on the horizon, it’s getting crowded as various public figures are eyeing his mayoral seat. Former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos has already made waves in fundraising, racking up around $153,000. Other contenders include Gina Ortiz Jones, former Air Force Undersecretary, and tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano. The fundraising scoreboard sees Pablos leading, but Ortiz Jones isn’t far behind with nearly $137,000 in cash on hand after some savvy spending.
Something interesting about San Antonio’s political landscape: a lot of campaign funds come from outside the city, with donors who may not even have a say in municipal elections. The upcoming mayoral race is shaping up to have two tiers of candidates: the well-connected ones and those bringing in hefty donations.
As the landscape shifts and new faces enter the mix, Nirenberg continues to be a familiar and trusted presence, focusing on his responsibilities until his term wraps up. With so many changes on the horizon, San Antonio is definitely a city to keep your eyes on in the coming years!
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