Kelly Ann Gonzalez and Ric Galvan are headed to a June 7 runoff to represent City Council’s District 6, with Gonzalez beating Galvan out by just 28 votes Saturday night.

Gonzalez secured 19.7% and Galvan secured 19.37% of the district’s 8,411 votes. 

Narrowly missing the runoff were middle school economics teacher Chris Baeker and longtime city staffer Vanessa Chavez, who trailed closely behind Gonzalez and Galvan with 17.64% and 16.8% of the vote. 

District 6, which covers much of San Antonio’s inner-to-far West Side, drew eight candidates after former Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda left the seat to run for mayor. The diverse field included council staffers, former school board members, longtime public servants and a Libertarian activist.

Gonzalez, a 34-year-old labor organizer backed by Cabello Havrda, campaigned on housing access and expansion of mental health services. 

At a San Antonio Report-hosted debate held April 25, candidates sparred over housing density, mental health, city accountability and the proper role of City Council in resisting or responding to state and federal overreach. During that discussion, Gonzalez said she was motivated to run for office after losing an older brother, who died by suicide in 2018, “[opening] my eyes to the inequities that our community faces.”

Gonzalez worked closely with Councilwoman Cabello Havrda last year to amend the City Charter so that city employees could participate in local elections by endorsing, volunteering and otherwise electioneering — an effort that passed in November with 63% support.

She went on to complete a leadership program for progressive candidates, and is now running on a platform of expanding the city’s mental health crisis teams and expanding access to housing — even if it means more affordable housing projects go in District 6 than in other parts of the city.

Standing in a completely packed party room inside the Mexican restaurant Grand Tequila on the city’s far West Side on Saturday night, Gonzalez celebrated her early lead with a tall shot, complete with a tajin rim, offered to her by one of her supporters. 

Shortly after, she was joined by reigning District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and his husband, Nathan, who wished her congratulations on her early advantage. The two chatted candidly for a while about goals they have in the upcoming session, should she win the District 6 runoff. 

Gonzalez told the San Antonio Report she is grateful for the turnout of her supporters who helped give her the leading edge. Born and raised in District 6, Gonzalez added she believes it’s her experience working as a labor organizer that helped give her an advantage.

“I’m not a political insider, I am someone who has been outside of the political machine, but fighting for change,” she said. “The story and the message that I ran on, I think, just resonated with my community and my people, especially coming from a working-class background, and being working class myself.” 

According to the latest campaign finance reports that came out last week and covered through April 23, Gonzalez led fundraising with more than $17,000 raised. Galvan followed with $11,000. 

Nearby at another Mexican restaurant Tacos Rodeo Jalisco on Potranco Road, Galvan huggedseveral friends goodbye while donning a white T-shirt stamped with “Ric Galvan for City Council District 6” Galvan beamed excitedly while sipping on a large Big Red. 

Galvan, 24, is a project manager in the District 5 office, as well as a progressive political organizer whose council campaign has been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.

Galvan told the San Antonio Report Saturday that if elected, he wants to first and foremost make sure the district’s field offices are fully equipped with staff to help respond to constituents so there are no gaps in services. Next, he said he wants to look at the city budget to help see where infrastructure needs can be better met. 

As a neighborhood association president in Pipers Meadow, he said that in his experience, most homeowners are not against multifamily developments; they just need to be brought into the conversation sooner to see the potential benefits.

“We knew it was going to be a tight election regardless, but we’ve been putting in the work since December, knocking on doors all the way through yesterday,” Galvan said. “We have a great team here who’s been doing the hard work, and tonight we’re celebrating.”

Read more about the candidates here and watch the full District 6 debate here.

Andrea Drusch contributed to this report.