2015 San Antonio mayoral election explained

Election Name:2015 San Antonio mayoral election
Flag Image:Flag of San Antonio, Texas.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2013 San Antonio mayoral election
Previous Year:2013
Next Election:2017 San Antonio mayoral election
Next Year:2017
Election Date:May 9, 2015 (first round)
June 13, 2015 (runoff)
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Runoff
Image1:Ivy Taylor (cropped).png
Candidate1:Ivy Taylor
Colour1:c0c0c0
1Data1:24,245
28.40%
2Data1:50,662
51.70%
Candidate2:Leticia Van de Putte
Colour2:c0c0c0
1Data2:25,982
30.43%
2Data2:47,331
48.30%
Candidate3:Mike Villarreal
Image3:Mike Villarreal.png
Colour3:c0c0c0
1Data3:22,246
26.06%
2Data3:Eliminated
Candidate4:Tommy Adkisson
Image4:Tommy Adkisson.png
Colour4:c0c0c0
1Data4:8,344
9.77%
2Data4:Eliminated
Mayor
Before Election:Ivy Taylor
After Election:Ivy Taylor
Turnout:14.12% (first round)

On May 9, 2015, the city of San Antonio, Texas, held an election to choose the next Mayor of San Antonio. Interim mayor Ivy Taylor ran for election to a full term and narrowly defeated former state senator Leticia Van de Putte in the runoff election on June 13, 2015, to become the first African American elected to the position. The election was officially nonpartisan.

Background

Julian Castro, who was first elected mayor in the 2009 mayoral election, was selected in 2014 to become the next United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Upon that announcement, State Representative Mike Villarreal immediately announced he would run to succeed Castro in the 2015 election.[1] Once Castro was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the San Antonio City Council selected Ivy Taylor as interim mayor by a third-round unanimous vote becoming the city's first African-American mayor.[2]

In November 2014, after losing the race to become Lieutenant Governor of Texas, outgoing State Senator Leticia Van de Putte announced she would run for mayor despite earlier reports saying she would not seek the position.[3] Additionally, in spite of earlier promises that Taylor would not run for a full term in the May election, she ultimately entered the race in February 2015.[4]

Candidates

After the deadline to file passed, four candidates (Adkisson, Taylor, Van de Putte and Villarreal) were considered the frontrunners in the race, though none of them were able to poll above fifty percent and avoid a runoff.

Declared

Endorsements

italicized individuals and organizations are post-regular election endorsements

Polling

Results

First round

On May 9, 2015, the election for mayor was held. None of the leading candidates received more than 50% of the vote and as a result, a runoff election was scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2015, between the top two vote getters.[8] * Vote percentage include all of Bexar County with a total of 12,316 either voting in another municipal election or casting no ballot for San Antonio mayor.

Runoff

More people voted in the runoff election for mayor than did in the regular election on May 9, 2015. Taylor found most of her support from conservatives within the city who typically reside on the north side and from her former city council district on the east side. Meanwhile, Van de Putte performed best on the west and south sides of town.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Villarreal Resigning to Run for San Antonio Mayor. The Texas Tribune. 9 November 2014 . November 19, 2014.
  2. Web site: Baugh. Josh. Ivy Taylor becomes mayor. San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. August 6, 2014. July 22, 2014.
  3. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Van de Putte announces mayoral bid. Nicole Perez. KSAT. February 16, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205182559/http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2014/11/19/exclusive--van-de-putte-announces-mayoral-bid.html. February 5, 2015. dead.
  4. Web site: Baugh. Josh. Ivy Taylor to run for mayor of San Antonio, joining a crowded field. San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. February 16, 2015. February 16, 2015.
  5. Web site: Adkisson joins 2015 mayoral race. December 29, 2014. December 29, 2014. Jacob. Beltran. San Antonio Express-News.
  6. Web site: Candidate Listing . City of San Antonio . March 3, 2015.
  7. Web site: The mayor of Kalsu brings it home to S.A.. November 8, 2014. December 29, 2014. Gilbert. Garcia. San Antonio Express-News.
  8. Web site: Municipal elections in San Antonio, Texas (2015). Ballotpedia. November 18, 2016.
  9. Web site: Taylor Becomes San Antonio's First Elected Black Mayor. Rivard Report. 14 June 2015 . June 14, 2015.