She’s the Mayor Now: Gina Ortiz Jones Makes History in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas — In a landmark decision that turned a new page for Texas politics, Gina Ortiz Jones made history by being elected the next mayor of San Antonio, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ mayor and the first Filipina-American to lead the city. Her victory not only shifts the tone of local leadership—it marks a deeply personal homecoming for a veteran and trailblazer raised on San Antonio’s poor West Side, a proud 1999 alumni of John Jay High School. Jones may have the right heart to end the generational poverty that has held San Antonio back from luring top companies and talent to the Alamo City.
Locally, former mayors Julián Castro and Phil Hardberger—both endorsers during the runoff—released a joint statement:
“We are confident Gina will bring our community together with a strong, positive vision for our city’s future and a commitment to serving all San Antonians.”
Jones, who served in the U.S. Air Force and later as Under Secretary of the Air Force under US President Joe Biden, will be sworn in on June 18. Her rise from modest beginnings—raised by her mother Victorina, a Filipina immigrant who cleaned homes to support her family—has resonated with voters across all walks of life. Now, with a four-year mayoral term ahead of her, she steps into the spotlight not just as a policymaker, but as a powerful symbol of representation.
Born in Arlington and educated at Boston University, Jones was commissioned into the United States Air Force through the university’s AFROTC program, Detachment 355. In a small-world connection, the same ROTC detachment also commissioned Christopher Herring—a chamber of commerce president, childcare business executive, and one of the 27 candidates in this mayoral race—who offered a powerful reflection on her win.
“I introduced Ending Generational Poverty as a foundational goal—and I hope she sets her own bold, long-range mission that uplifts every corner of San Antonio,” Herring said to River Walk Magazine.
San Antonio’s poverty rate—hovering at 17.7% overall and nearly 27% among children—has remained stubbornly high for more than a decade, reflecting a deeper issue that extends beyond temporary hardship. These aren’t just statistics; they represent entire neighborhoods locked in generational poverty, where opportunities are scarce and progress is cyclical. In fact, broader indicators show that nearly 46% of households in Bexar County live paycheck to paycheck, unable to afford basic necessities like housing, childcare, and food. These figures highlight the urgency facing city leadership—not just to manage poverty, but to end the systems that perpetuate it. For Mayor-elect Gina Ortiz Jones, who has lived the story of working-class struggle, this moment offers the chance to rewrite San Antonio’s economic narrative—not for a news cycle, but for a generation.
Boston University’s legacy runs deep—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also earned his doctorate there—and it now counts two San Antonians among its civic-minded alumni. That legacy is particularly meaningful for a city that hosts the largest Martin Luther King Jr. march in the nation each January. Gina Ortiz Jones is now San Antonio's new "drum major for justice."
Jones’s military background is central to her leadership style, and her new role carries added weight in a city known proudly as "Military City USA." San Antonio is home to Joint Base San Antonio, one of the largest military installations in the world. With her Pentagon experience, Jones is well positioned to advocate for veterans, safeguard federal military assets, and improve services for transitioning service members and their families. Veterans across the region now have one of their own leading City Hall.
San Antonio’s veteran community faces a concerning challenge: while overall homelessness has seen decreases in recent years, veterans remain disproportionately affected—particularly following the end of pandemic-era housing aid. In 2023, Texas reported a sharp 19% increase in veteran homelessness, with San Antonio and Dallas accounting for over one‑third of that rise. Local homelessness counts also show that although unsheltered veteran numbers dropped, the chronically homeless veteran population increased by 77% from 2020 to 2022, highlighting the struggle of long-term housing insecurity. Despite strong local programs like the VA’s HUD‑VASH and Haven for Hope, the city’s veteran homeless population—numbering in the low hundreds unsheltered—continues to call for policy attention and expanded support services as Mayor‑elect Gina Ortiz Jones takes office.
Her victory came after a runoff against Rolando Pablos, a former Texas Secretary of State and the most well-funded candidate in the race. Despite over $1 million in outside PAC support for Pablos, Jones secured a decisive 54 percent of the vote, riding a wave of grassroots momentum and support from national progressive organizations. The field initially began with 27 mayoral hopefuls, but it was Jones’s grounded message of equity, accountability, and opportunity that stood out.
Pablos, in his concession, acknowledged the political tide. “The fact is that San Antonio continues to be a blue city… This race became highly partisan, and today it showed,” he said, later adding, “I will continue to serve this community with pride… We want the best for this community and for our families.”
As she prepares to take office, Jones inherits a city that has grown rapidly under Mayor Ron Nirenberg, her predecessor, who focused on downtown revitalization, major development projects, and climate goals. While Nirenberg governed as a nonpartisan pragmatist, Jones brings a more progressive, federally informed approach, having managed national defense budgets and personnel policy at the highest levels. She has promised to review big-ticket projects like “Project Marvel,” and to ensure future developments are rooted in public benefit, not just business interest.
Thanks to a 2024 charter change passed by voters, Jones will now serve a four-year term—San Antonio’s first under the new rule. Her salary, set at $61,725 annually, reflects a commitment to public service rather than personal gain. In a state dominated by Republican leadership, and in a national climate still reeling from deep partisanship, her ability to deliver on campaign promises may require skillful navigation of both local and federal relationships. But if anyone is prepared for political complexity, it’s a woman who’s served in Iraq, advised the Pentagon, and won a city-wide campaign against the odds.
Jones’s partner will join her in what becomes San Antonio’s first openly LGBTQ+ mayoral household—an historic first for the city. Alongside District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez—the first openly gay Black elected official in Texas and now the senior member of the City Council—Jones ushers in a new era of civic representation and equity. For many in San Antonio’s LGBTQ+ community, her win isn’t just symbolic; it’s a moment of long-awaited validation and a clear signal that policy progress is within reach.
As mayor, Jones is expected to work closely with McKee-Rodriguez, whose advocacy helped establish the city’s first Pride Cultural Heritage District along North Main Avenue—an initiative that both honors history and strengthens the local LGBTQ+ economy. Together, they could pursue the long-overdue creation of a permanent civil rights office within City Hall to monitor and address anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination—an idea McKee-Rodriguez has long championed. Their partnership may also give San Antonio a louder voice in defending LGBTQ+ rights statewide, especially as Texas continues to advance legislation that many view as hostile to queer communities. With Jones bringing the reach of executive leadership and McKee-Rodriguez offering deep community roots and cultural momentum, the pair is poised to shape a more inclusive, affirming city for all—through youth programs, housing access, public health, and beyond.
As the city’s new first family prepares to take office, San Antonio stands at a cultural and political crossroads. Representation is no longer just a banner—it’s an active force in the mayor’s office, the council chambers, and the hearts of young residents who now see someone who looks like them, serves like them, and leads like them.
For Gina Ortiz Jones, history has been made. But her real work—rooted in equity, service, and hope—is just beginning.
About the Author
Teresa Chavarria, Editor-in-Chief, River Walk Magazine
Teresa Chavarria is San Antonio’s renowned Beauty Guru and the visionary behind The Beauty Spot and Evolve TX Med. With over 27 years of experience as a licensed esthetician, educator, and innovator, Teresa leads the conversation on skincare, noninvasive beauty, and wellness. As Editor-in-Chief of River Walk Magazine, she brings her passion for beauty, empowerment, and transformation to every page.
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