Community Members Questioned Ron Nirenberg at a County Judge Screening Hosted by Texas Organizing Project; Incumbent Peter Sakai Did Not Attend
As we head into this new year, there has been an enormous amount of attention, mainly focusing on elections, from primaries to possible runoffs, and ultimately, to the 2026 midterms which focus on congressional races. In essence, all state seats are reportedly being contested – from the governor’s on down. Here, in Bexar County, there’s a list of offices being contested, including the District Attorney’s office, a couple of the Precinct seats on Commissioner’s Court, Constable races and the race for the County Clerk’s office.
Of particular interest is the race for County Judge, which features former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who is challenging the incumbent Judge Peter Sakai. Per the former mayor’s campaign material, he denotes his prior service to the city from 2017 to 2025, during which time he dedicated himself to creating a good government that stands for its people. “Whether it was leading the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing forward an equity lens for our city’s budget, or standing up against oppressive state legislation, we’ve proven that we have the tenacity to move a community forward with the right leadership.” For this reason, he is now seeking to bring that momentum to Bexar County so we can all rise together.”
TOPS County Judge Screening
In the past week I sat in on a screening of the candidates for County Judge, with Texas Organizing Project, where the former mayor was faced with a variety of questions regarding his interactions with the organization. Per TOP representatives, both candidates (Nirenberg and Sakai) were sent invitations, requesting their presence, at this screening, but, the incumbent did not respond, until the evening of the screening. Sakai may have the screening done in the future in a virtual setting.
During this screening, Nirenberg faced multiple questions from TOP members, regarding his support for the organization’s goals, as well as inquiries on his perceived lack of a response from invitations to appear at a community meeting, and about promises to support certain projects which did not materialize. The former mayor explained that there were communication breakdowns – where “he did not learn of his having been invited to a community event, until he saw himself on television, with an empty chair in front of his picture.” He was able to commit to always having someone reliable to respond to questions, from TOP.
Project Marvel: “East Side Elected Officials Were Being Kept Out Of The Loop”
Upon inquiry, regarding the development of Project Marvel and the redevelopment of the Frost Bank Center & Rodeo grounds, the former mayor expressed that “Eastside elected officials were being kept out of the loop” regarding negotiations, as the development committee members have had to sign NDAs”, non-disclosure agreements.
Social and Racial Disparities in San Antonio
Candidate Nirenberg was further able to commit to continuing to work on affordable housing, pointing to his involvement with creating the San Antonio Housing Trust as well as focusing on Workforce Development and an Equity Framework for San Antonio to address economic, social and racial disparities in the San Antonio area. He also expressed that this commitment will “set the foundation for equality, in our community, to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”
The Great Debate
The Great Debate between Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai (incumbent) and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is set for February 10, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Stable Hall at the Pearl in San Antonio. With voters looking for answers, we hope Judge Sakai takes the stage so the public can compare the candidates on the issues and make an informed vote.
The Money
Nirenberg reported raising roughly $360,000 between July 1 and Dec. 31. During that same period, Sakai raised about $254,000 and ended the year with approximately $563,000 on hand, including prior campaign funds and donations.
My plan is to continue following this race, to find where the incumbent stands (Judge Peter Sakai) on relevant issues and bring those answers to our readers. There’s an election of great significance and importance on the horizon and citizens need to know where candidates stand in order to make an informed decision when they enter the voting booth.
** Early voting for the March 3 primary runs from February 17 to February 27, with Election Day on March 3.
