Councilman John Courage (D9) has ended his 2025 mayoral campaign, citing health concerns and new longer terms that voters approved on the Nov. 5 ballot.
At age 72, Courage was among the oldest candidates in the field of mayoral hopefuls when he entered the race in January.
Since council is moving from two-year terms to four-year terms after the next election, he would be 78 years old by the end of his first term as mayor, Courage said in a letter to supporters Monday evening.
Despite holding an early lead in public polling of the race, Courage wrote that he had decided to withdraw his candidacy so that he and his wife, Zada True-Courage, could spend their remaining years together doing something different with their lives.
“While I remain passionate about public service, I must also acknowledge the realities of my age and health,” he said in the letter. “While I am fortunate to feel well today, I have encountered some health challenges that require greater attention to ensure my continued well-being.”
Courage was term-limited from seeking reelection to his council seat. He said in the letter that he plans to serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in June.
A number of candidates have already expressed interest in running for his council seat.
Courage has long been active in Democratic politics and ran for office multiple times before he was elected to the City Council for the first time in 2017.
Over time his once liberal politics have moved toward the center, and his campaign launch outside City Hall this year was disrupted by pro-Palestinian activists calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, many of whom criticized Courage as having lost his progressive credentials.
Despite that, Courage said his record of accomplishments on the council and his success in a conservative-leaning council district had left him feeling confident he had more to offer.
“At that time, I felt personally ready, proud of the progress we’ve made during my tenure on the City Council, and deeply moved by the outpouring of encouragement from many of you who believed in my vision and leadership,” Courage wrote to supporters Monday.
Courage’s early start to the mayor’s race astounded some political watchers back in January. But since then, a total of 15 candidates, including two other council members, have filed treasurer’s reports, allowing their campaigns to start raising money.
Candidates can’t formally file to run in the May 3 municipal election until Jan. 16, meaning others may reconsider their plans before then.
Speaking on a panel earlier this year several former San Antonio mayors lauded a well-qualified field, including some young candidates like tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano, who they hoped would bring fresh ideas to some of the city’s long standing problems.
“We’ve got some really, really good candidates,” said Nelson Wolff, who previously served as both San Antonio mayor and Bexar County judge. “… We’ve got young Beto [at age] 34, and Courage, what about 100?”
Correction: This story has been updated to include Courage’s letter to supporters, and the correct age at which he would have ended his first mayoral term.
