Following his runoff victory speech, Mayor Ron Nirenberg embraces his son, Jonah. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report
As the contentious mayoral race drew to a close Saturday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg packed his Election Day schedule with visits to more than a dozen polling sites. The Rivard Report followed along in the final stretch of Nirenberg’s campaign.
Nirenberg and his field team appeared optimistic throughout the day. Leaning on caffeine and classic rock between polling sites, the team felt like they hit crucial voting pockets when it mattered most. Fighting against the 100-degree weather, the campaign focused on districts 1, 7, 8, 9, and 10 and took the “every vote counts” mentality.
Often we think of politicians sitting behind their large oak desks, catered to event after event, when the reality is far less glamorous. Stumping is a slow-moving grind that includes the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. My time with the Nirenberg campaign helped me understand how much work actually goes into every single vote cast.
8:33 a.m. – A large cloud of black smoke from a fire is seen from a distance as Mayor Nirenberg travels to an event. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report8:41 a.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg greets seniors at a breakfast at Luby’s Cafeteria at the Las Palmas Shopping Center. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:34 a.m. – Mayor Nirenberg greets individual tables at Luby’s. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report10:05 a.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg approaches his campaign headquarters near downtown San Antonio. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report10:07 a.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg shakes hands with campaign volunteers at his campaign office. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report10:09 a.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg exits his campaign headquarters to visit election polling places on the final day of voting. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report11:05 a.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg waits for voters to arrive at Shearer Hills Baptist Church. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report11:16 a.m. – Voters arriving to Brook Hollow Library are greeted by Mayor Ron Nirenberg. The campaign uses these encounters to get a temperature on the voting outlook. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report12:08 p.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg places his lunch order at Whataburger. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report3:30 p.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg chats with volunteers while visiting a polling place. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report4:48 p.m. – Mayor Nirenberg speaks with voters outside of Huebner Elementary school, as volunteer James Dykeman holds a sign in support. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report7:42 p.m. – After early voting totals were released, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and his wife, Erika Prosper, share a moment before they address supporters at the campaign party. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report8:19 p.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg hugs a supporter at the Friendly Spot in Southtown. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:10 p.m. – After clinching a victory, Mayor Ron Nirenberg hugs supporters on his way to publicly accept the outcome. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:11 p.m. – Mayor Ron Nirenberg and his wife, Erika Prosper, embrace at the end of election night. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:12 p.m. – Ron Nirenberg and his son, Jonah, in a tight embrace. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:14 p.m. – Along with ecstatic supporters, Mayor Ron Nirenberg celebrates his victory over challenger Greg Brockhouse. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:20 p.m. – Ron Nirenberg’s son, Jonah, sheds tears as his father declares victory in the 2019 mayoral election. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:21 p.m. – Following his victory speech, Ron Nirenberg hugs his son, Jonah. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report9:21 p.m. – Ron Nirenberg kisses his wife Erika Prosper at the end of the night. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report
Scott Ball
Scott Ball is San Antonio Report's photo editor and grew up in San Antonio.
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