Voters Still Undecided UTSA Poll Shows as San Antonio Gears Up for a Big Local Election
Early voting has begun and a new poll by the University of Texas at San Antonio, released last week, is shedding light on how voters are feeling about the upcoming mayoral election—and the results point to a race that’s still wide open.
The UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR) surveyed 685 likely voters from April 7 to 9 and found that 30% of them are still undecided. That’s down slightly from 35% in February, but it means nearly a third of voters haven’t picked a candidate—just weeks before they head to the polls.
Ortiz Jones Leads, But It’s Still Anyone’s Game
Out of a crowded field of 27 candidates vying to replace outgoing Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Gina Ortiz Jones is currently leading with 12.8% support. That’s up from 9.3% in February.
Following her is former Councilman John Courage, who holds steady with just over 7%. Beto Altamirano made a strong climb to 6.6%, while Rolando Pablos made the biggest leap—up from less than 1% in February to 5% in April.
Manny Pelaez, Melissa Cabello Havrda, Adriana Rocha Garcia, Clayton Perry, and Tim Westley are all polling between 3% and 5%. None of the remaining 18 candidates polled above 1%.
Still, 15% of voters said they’re unfamiliar with any of the candidates.
To find out who’s on your district’s ballot visit the city’s elections page.
Skepticism Towards New Sports Projects, Optimism for City Leadership
The CPOR poll shows San Antonio voters are divided on major development proposals. Support for Project Marvel, the plan to redevelop Hemisfair into a sports and entertainment district, dropped to 34%, while opposition rose to 44%. A similar split appears on using a venue tax to help fund a new Spurs arena, with 44% against and 40% in favor. Support for a new Missions baseball stadium also fell to 34%.
Despite this uncertainty, voters remain more optimistic about local government—48% say the city is headed in the right direction, compared to 53% who feel Texas is off track and 62% for the country.
Early Voting Starts April 22; Election Day Is May 3
Voters will soon have their say in this high-stakes race. Early voting runs from April 22 to April 29, and Election Day is Saturday, May 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To get ready, visit the Bexar County Elections Department website where you can check your registration status, view a personalized sample ballot, and find early voting or Election Day polling locations.
