Candidates running for City Council and mayor finally had to show their cards this week, reporting their campaign fundraising and spending over the past six months.
The open mayor’s race had already drawn massive early interest from a long list of candidates who filed the paperwork to begin raising money, but have had months to quietly amass their war chests before filing these first reports, thanks to recent a change in the city’s campaign finance rules.
Reports due Wednesday cover money raised and spent between July 1 and Dec. 31.
Fundraising isn’t everything, but it’s often a sign of momentum that can indicate a candidate is drawing early support. Conversely, a candidate who fails to meet early fundraising goals can have a hard time making their case.
Filing to appear on the ballot opened Wednesday, and closes at 5 p.m. on Feb. 15. Here’s a look at where they stand, money-wise:
1. The heavy hitters
Though a number of current council members are running for mayor, a trio of candidates who aren’t currently serving in city government stood out from the pack in the most recent hauls — in part by tapping their unique personal networks, or by self-funding.
Tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano brought in a total of about $217,000 — $133,000 in donations, plus an $84,500 personal loan to his campaign.
He was also the highest spender in the past six months, shelling out $143,000 on consulting, staff salaries, compliance help, photography and events. He reported $134,000 on hand, and his most recent report indicated outstanding loans totaling $134,500.
Rolando Pablos, who served as Texas Secretary of State under Gov. Greg Abbott, brought in about $200,000 — $153,000 in campaign contributions and $47,000 in personal loans.
His fundraising haul reflects some of his political connections from time spent working in Austin, including a check from prominent conservative consultant Allen Blakemore. But Pablos is paying local consultants Bauhaus Media and Leticia Cantu for ad production and campaign help. His most recent report showed $61,500 spent and $133,000 on hand.
Former Air Force Under Secretary Gina Ortiz Jones has only formally been in the race since early December, but brought in $139,000, spent $1,872 and $136,800 on hand, according to her report.
2. A D.C. influence?
Ortiz Jones brings national campaign experience, serving as Democrats’ nominee for high-dollar congressional races in 2018 and 2020. Last election cycle she sought to keep that fundraising prowess going by forming the Find Out PAC, aimed at unseating Republican Texas Supreme Court justices.
As she pivots to a nonpartisan contest, a D.C.-based PAC called “Elect Democratic Women” filed a report with the city clerk indicating that it plans to help Ortiz Jones in the mayoral race.
It’s only raised $1,000, but Ortiz Jones’ out-of-state fundraising is already the talk of the other campaigns, and her Washington connections could certainly add an unusual twist to a local race.
3. Rocha Garcia gets by with help from friends
Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia (D4), who represents part of the South Side, is running an unconventional mayoral campaign on a shoestring budget.
She raised $29,100 and spent $8,800 in the past six months, and reported $41,800 on hand as of Dec. 31, according to her most recent report.
So far Rocha Garcia’s campaign staffers have largely donated their time, including two consultants, Ashley Barth and Samantha Hernandez, who previously worked for Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda (D6), who is also running for mayor.
At candidate filing on Wednesday, Rocha Garcia was joined by another campaign volunteer: Councilman John Courage (D9), the first mayoral hopeful to announce his bid January of last year, as well as drop out of the race in December, who will serve as her “Northside neighborhood liaison.”
“One of the things that I’ve heard most from people is, ‘We know that you’re South Side champion. How are you going to get the word out on the North Side?'” Rocha Garcia said in an interview Wednesday. “Councilman Courage is ready to help out and make connections and just tell me all about the North Side that he knows, that he loves, that he’s represented for so long.”
4. The rest of the pack
Councilman Manny Pelaez (D8), who was a top fundraiser in the last round of reports in July, brought in $64,000, spent $76,000 and had $13,000 on hand according to his most recent report.
He spent about $25,000 on consulting with San Antonio-based Viva Politics, consultant Laura Barbarena’s group. The report indicates he accidentally had his personal Uber account linked to his campaign funds at one point, and refunded the costs.
Cabello Havrda raised $20,400, spent $36,900 and had $38,600 on hand according to her report.
Much of that went to the San Antonio political consulting firm Düable, which also does work on behalf of progressive Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2), as well as a newly formed bar and restaurant industry PAC that could be engaged in the municipal election.
5. Expensive City Council race in D8
While San Antonio will host a number competitive City Council contests this year, one high-profile race is drawing far more early money than the others.
District 8 represents some of the city’s wealthiest enclaves on the Northwest side, including the Dominion. Its incumbent, Pelaez, is term-limited from seeking reelection, so candidates have long known there would be an open seat.
Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, a former chief of staff to outgoing Mayor Ron Nirenberg, reported raising $33,540 in the past six months, and is also working with Viva Politics.
Attorney Paula McGee raised $34,190 from donors and loaned her campaign $25,000. Her campaign is working with San Antonio-based consultant CSG.
Real estate investor Sakib Shaikh hauled $15,600, spent about $30,000 and reported $57,600 on hand. He’s working with Düable.
6. Failure to launch
One mayoral hopeful, tax attorney John Atwood, arrived at City Hall on Wednesday hoping to file his candidacy, but learned he doesn’t live inside city limits and isn’t qualified to run, according to video captured by KSAT.
Atwood had already spent roughly $7,000 on the race, according to his campaign finance report.
Another candidate, former District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, entered the race with much fanfare after an alcohol-fueled car accident seemingly ended his political career two years ago.
But so far donors seemingly haven’t gone along with plans for a comeback, he only raised $2,200, according to his most recent report. He spent about $20,000, most of which went to Everest Marketing, the political consulting firm of former District 7 Councilman Greg Brockhouse.
Bonus: What’s next for Nirenberg?
Nirenberg is term-limited from seeking reelection, and spent much of his past six months helping Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
If Harris had won, a spot in her administration seemed like the natural next step for Nirenberg.
But in the months since the November election, two political insiders told the San Antonio Report that Nirenberg has been quietly exploring the possibility of running for Bexar County judge in 2026.
Reached while he was traveling to D.C. on Thursday, Nirenberg denied that assessment and said he was focused on finishing the job at hand.
“I am not exploring a run for any other office at the moment,” he said in a statement. “There is a lot of work to do in the mayor’s office over the next 150 days, and that work is my only priority.”
His most recent campaign finance report shows he used some of his campaign funds this past summer host events at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He and his family also visited the White House in mid-December to celebrate some of President Joe Biden’s last days in office.
Between July 1 and Dec. 31, Nirenberg raised $2,600, spent $28,800 and reported $3,500 on hand.
He will restock some of that war chest with a fundraiser early next month — further fueling speculation about a future campaign for higher office, possibly closer to home.
