Mayor Ron Nirenberg is term-limited from seeking reelection, and this is San Antonio’s first mayoral election without an incumbent on the ballot since 2009.
In such a packed race, it is unlikely a candidate takes the 50% of the vote required to win outright on May 3, resulting in a runoff election between the top two finishers .
The runoff election would be held June 7. A winner would be declared shortly after polls close that night, unless it’s an extremely close race.
Also on the May 3 ballot, all 10 City Council districts have contested races. With a total of 59 candidates running, those races may result in runoffs too.
The last mayoral runoff election took place in 2019, under very different circumstances.
Nirenberg was running for his second term and led a field of challengers on election night with 49% of the vote. Because he didn’t reach the 50% threshold, however, the race went to a runoff with then-Councilman Greg Brockhouse that drew tons of new interest and spending in a head-to-head contest.
In the end, Nirenberg won with 51% of the vote in the runoff, and avoided that outcome with decisive victories in 2021 and 2023.
Thursday, April 3 is the last day to register to vote, with early voting running from April 22-29 .
Voters can choose from any of these 46 early voting locations. Hours vary by date and location. They can also be viewed on this interactive map.
A longer list of polling locations will be open on election day, May 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m .
When would a runoff election be?
The last day to register to vote in a June 7 runoff election is May 8, with the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot on May 27. You don’t have to have participated in the first round to cast a vote in the runoff.
Early voting for the potential runoff election would run from May 27 to June 3.
Jorge Fernandez, tech support manager for the Bexar County Elections Department, said an exact number of polls is not yet available for a potential runoff.
Poll hours for runoff early voting sites have not been made official, but Fernandez said the schedule would likely be the same as the early voting period for the general election.
Who is on the ballot?
San Antonio Report put together a voter guide including other important dates, mayoral and City Council candidate profiles and details of elections for school boards and for other municipalities within Bexar County.
Sample ballots are available on the department’s site.
On April 8, San Antonio Report will be conducting a mayoral debate with the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. at the Carver Community Cultural Center, on 226 N. Hackberry St. The debate is free and open to the public. Register here .
The Report also will host a District 4 and District 6 candidate forum at 6 p.m. April 11 at the Boeing Center at Tech Port – Lab Space.
A District 8 and District 9 candidate forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 17 in Elevate Events at Country Village Plaza, 15701 San Pedro Ave.
If you are unsure of which City Council district you belong to, check here .
Voter registration status can also be checked on the Bexar County Elections Department website, with more voting resources available here .
