Gina Ortiz Jones wins San Antonio runoff, becoming the city’s first Filipina American, openly gay, and combat veteran mayor.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – U.S. Air Force veteran and former federal official Gina Ortiz Jones made history on Friday, June 7, after winning the runoff election to become the next mayor of San Antonio—marking a groundbreaking moment for both Filipino Americans and the LGBTQ+ community in Texas.
Ortiz Jones, 43, secured 54.3% of the vote, defeating Republican candidate Rolando Pablos, who garnered 45.7%, according to official election results. She will be sworn into office on June 18, succeeding term-limited Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
“This victory belongs to all San Antonians who believe in honest leadership and inclusive growth,” Ortiz Jones said in her remarks following the election. “I look forward to being a mayor for all.”
Daughter of Filipino Immigrants
Born in Arlington, Virginia, Ortiz Jones was raised in San Antonio by her single mother, Victorina Ortiz, a Filipino immigrant and public school teacher. Her campaign highlighted her deep ties to the city, her working-class upbringing, and her military service.
She becomes the first Filipina American, the first openly gay person, and the first woman of color to serve as mayor of San Antonio—currently the seventh-largest city in the United States.
Military and Public Service Background
A recipient of a U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship, Ortiz Jones graduated from Boston University with degrees in East Asian studies and economics. She later earned postgraduate credentials from the University of Kansas and the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies.
Ortiz Jones served as an intelligence officer in Iraq before continuing her national security career at the Defense Intelligence Agency and U.S. Africa Command. In 2021, she was appointed Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, becoming the first woman of color and first out lesbian to hold that role, confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.
From Congressional Candidate to City Hall
After two closely contested runs for U.S. Congress in Texas’ 23rd district (2018 and 2020), Ortiz Jones returned to San Antonio and entered the 2025 mayoral race. She led a crowded general election field of 27 candidates in May with 27.2%, while Pablos trailed with 16.6%, advancing both to the runoff.
Ortiz Jones’ victory came amid record voter turnout, with more than 143,000 ballots cast.
Policy Vision Rooted in Equity
As mayor, Ortiz Jones has pledged to focus on:
- Expanding Pre-K 4 SA to reach more three- and four-year-olds
- Investing in affordable housing, workforce training, and digital infrastructure
- Redirecting funding from proposed multibillion-dollar projects, such as a $4 billion downtown arena, toward essential services
- Launching initiatives like homeownership support for teachers and repurposing closed schools into neighborhood hubs
She enters office facing a projected $31 million city budget shortfall, with gaps expected to widen in future years. Ortiz Jones has committed to a transparent 100-day review of city spending and operations.
A National Milestone for Representation
Ortiz Jones is now the highest-profile Filipina elected official in Texas and becomes the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city in the South. Her win is a major milestone for Asian Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and working-class women in public service.
“Leadership is about lifting every community,” she said. “My lived experience will always inform my fight for equity, because every San Antonian deserves dignity and opportunity.”
She is set to take office on June 18, becoming the 47th mayor of San Antonio and the city’s third female mayor, following Lila Cockrell and Ivy Taylor.
As Filipino Americans celebrate both Pride Month and Filipino Heritage Month later this year, Ortiz Jones’ election stands as a defining example of intersectional leadership—and a powerful reminder of how public service rooted in authenticity can make history.
