This story has been updated.
Campaign finance reports due Monday offer a first glimpse at how the crowded field of candidates are stacking up in the race to replace term-limited Mayor Ron Nirenberg in 2025.
The reports cover Jan. 1 through June 30. The next set of reports aren’t due until mid January, since the City Council voted to eliminate quarterly reports earlier this year.
Tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano, who launched his campaign in May, led the pack, raising $62,000, including $20,000 of his own money. He also loaned his campaign an additional $50,000.
Altamirano has spent $52,000 so far, including roughly $30,000 on ad videography and photography, and reported having $60,000 on hand.
Councilman Manny Pelaez (D8), who launched his campaign in April, reported raising $47,000 over the past six months. Expenses include roughly $19,000 to San Antonio campaign consultants Viva Politics. He reported $9,000 cash on hand.
Councilman John Courage (D9), who announced his intention to run in January, brought in $19,000 and loaned his campaign an additional $25,000 in February. He spent $28,000 in the past six months, including $15,000 to repay down an old personal loan, and reported $26,000 on hand as of June 30.
Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda (D6) brought in $15,800, after raising money with political and business leaders for her potential mayoral bid last month. She spent $20,000, including $5,000 for political consulting with the local progressive marketing firm Düable, and reported $48,500 cash on hand, according to her report.
One first-term councilman, Marc Whyte, outraised the whole crew. He brought in $88,000, spent $9,000 and reported $107,000 in the bank.
Whyte is up for reelection in District 10 and hasn’t signaled plans for mayor, but said in an interview Monday, “We have to get who the next mayor is right. It’s a very important decision for the future of our city.”
Filing opens Jan. 15 and ends Feb. 14 for the May 3 race.
Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia (D4), who is still mulling a mayoral bid, raised $1,950, spent $4,500 and reported $24,000 cash on hand as of June 30.
Former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos told the San Antonio Report that he’s gearing up for a mayoral campaign, but waiting to take that step while standing up a think tank first.
Council races
District 1: First-term Councilwoman Sukh Kaur (D1) appears to be raising money to run for a second term. She raised $22,000, spent $2,000 and reported $62,000 cash on hand.
District 2: Councilman Jalen McKee Rodriguez (D2), who is running for a third term, raised $13,000, spent $7,500 and reported $11,000 on hand.
District 3: Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran (D3) suffered a health scare earlier this year that caused some to speculate on whether she’ll seek reelection. But Viagran has been raising money in recent weeks, and reported $11,500 cash on hand.
District 4: Rocha Garcia (D4), who is still mulling a mayoral bid, raised $1,950, spent $4,500 and reported $24,000 cash on hand as of June 30.
District 5: Councilwoman Teri Castillo (D5) is up for third term. She raised $4,700, spent $2,500 and reported $24,000 on hand.
District 6: Chris Baecker, an accountant who took 11% of the vote in a three-way race in 2023, is raising money to run again. He reported bringing in $3,075 in the first half of 2024.
District 7: Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito (D7), who is seeking a second term, raised $15,000, spent $3,300 and reported $21,000 on hand.
District 8: In the open race to replace Pelaez, Sakib Shaikh, a realtor and landlord, raised $48,000, including a personal loan of $25,000, according to his report. He spent $5,000 and reported $66,000 on hand. Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, the former chief of staff to Nirenberg, is also running in District 8. She raised $34,700, spent $7,400 and reported $23,000 cash on hand.
District 9: In what’s likely to be a crowded open race, conservative activist Patrick Von Dohlen, who pushed Courage to a runoff in 2021, reported raising $150 and $84 on hand.
District 10: Marc Whyte (D10) brought in $88,000, spent $9,000 and reported $107,000 in the bank.
