2017 San Antonio mayoral election explained

Election Name:2017 San Antonio mayoral election
Flag Image:Flag of San Antonio, Texas.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2015 San Antonio mayoral election
Previous Year:2015
Next Election:2019 San Antonio mayoral election
Next Year:2019
Election Date:May 6, 2017 (first round)
June 10, 2017 (runoff)
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Runoff
Image1:Ron Nirenberg.jpg
Candidate1:Ron Nirenberg
Colour1:c0c0c0
1Data1:36,887
37.08%
2Data1:54,020
54.60%
Candidate2:Ivy Taylor
Colour2:c0c0c0
1Data2:41,788
42.01%
2Data2:44,922
45.40%
Candidate3:Manuel Medina
Image3:San Antonio Mayoral Candidate Manuel Medina.png
Colour3:c0c0c0
1Data3:15,049
15.13%
2Data3:Eliminated
Mayor
Before Election:Ivy Taylor
After Election:Ron Nirenberg
Turnout:11.32% (first round)
13.16% (runoff)

On May 6, 2017, the city of San Antonio, Texas held an election to choose the next mayor of San Antonio. The election was officially nonpartisan with candidates party affiliations not appearing on the ballot. As no candidate secured a majority of the vote (50% of all votes cast +1), a runoff was held on June 10, 2017 with Councilman Ron Nirenberg defeating incumbent mayor Ivy Taylor.

Simultaneous elections to the city council as well as various area bond programs were held on the same date.

Background

Julian Castro, who was elected mayor in the 2009 San Antonio mayoral election, resigned in 2014 to become the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Ivy Taylor was selected by the San Antonio City Council as Castro's successor. Taylor successfully ran for re-election as mayor in the 2015 San Antonio mayoral election.

On November 13, 2016, Taylor officially announced her candidacy for a second full term as mayor.[1] [2] City Councilman Ron Nirenberg became the first challenger to Taylor, announcing his candidacy on December 10, 2016.[3] The chairman of the Bexar County Democratic Party, Manuel Medina, announced his candidacy on January 7, 2017.[4] District 4 City Councilman Rey Saldaña, a potential candidate, opted to run for a fourth term to the city council rather than mayor.[5]

Candidates

A total of 14 citizens submitted applications to be on the ballot for mayor. Taylor, Medina, and Nirenberg were identified as the primary three candidates in the election.[6]

Declared

Endorsements

italicized individuals and organizations are post-regular election endorsements

Polling

Results

First round

On May 6, 2017, 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 10, 2017 between the top two vote-getters.[9] * Vote percentage includes all of Bexar County with a total of 16,745 either voting in another municipal election or casting no ballot for San Antonio mayor.

Runoff

The runoff election between the top two candidates was held on Saturday, June 10, 2017. 230 fewer people voted in the runoff than in the first round. This was the third consecutive runoff election in which the runner-up in the first round went on to win in the runoff. This was also the first election in twenty years that the incumbent mayor of San Antonio sought re-election and lost, when Bill Thornton sought re-election in 1997 but failed to qualify for the runoff (Thornton was ultimately succeeded by Howard Peak).[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mayor Taylor Announces Re-election Bid - KTSA. KTSA. November 16, 2016. November 14, 2016. November 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161117064347/https://www.ktsa.com/mayor-taylor-announces-re-election-bid/. dead.
  2. Web site: Baugh. Josh. Mayor announces re-election campaign. San Antonio Express-News. Hearst. November 16, 2016. November 13, 2016.
  3. Web site: Arias. Pilar. SA Councilman Ron Nirenberg announces mayoral bid. KSAT-TV. January 9, 2017. December 10, 2016.
  4. Web site: . New candidate enters San Antonio mayoral race. KSAT-TV. January 9, 2017. January 7, 2017.
  5. Web site: Saldaña Defers Mayoral Ambitions. Dimmick. Iris. December 24, 2016. February 21, 2017. The Rivard Report.
  6. Web site: Mayoral Candidates Sharpen Positions at Town Hall. The Rivard Report. Dimmick. Iris. February 8, 2017. February 21, 2017.
  7. Web site: City of San Antonio Mayoral Candidates. https://web.archive.org/web/20170222052751/http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/Clerk/Elections/2017%20Election/Mayor%20-%20Ballot%20Order.pdf?ver=2017-02-20-114836-333. February 22, 2017. February 20, 2017.
  8. Web site: Conflicting Mayoral Polls: A One-Round Race or a Runoff?. Dimmick. Iris. The Rivard Report. March 22, 2017. March 24, 2017.
  9. Web site: May 6 2017 Media Report. May 18, 2017. www.bexar.org. December 30, 2019.
  10. Web site: June 10 2017 Media Report. June 22, 2017. www.bexar.org. December 30, 2019.