Former San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg has declared victory in the Bexar County Judge race, saying he is honored to serve the county’s residents. The race matters to San Antonio families because the county judge oversees the courts, jail, emergency services and major infrastructure projects that affect daily life.
According to KSAT, early‑voting results showed Nirenberg leading with 68% of the vote at 8:20 p.m., while Republican challenger Patrick Von Dohlen trailed. The station noted that more than 503,000 people voted early in Bexar County and over 136,000 voted on Election Day.
San Antonio Report provided the latest vote totals, reporting 343,938 votes for Nirenberg and 163,354 for Von Dohlen, giving the Democrat a 67.7% share of the early count. Nirenberg told supporters at Backyard on Broadway that his first priority will be public safety, emphasizing the need to address jail conditions, expand mental‑health access, and manage the county’s rapid growth.
Von Dohlen, a financial advisor and conservative activist, conceded the race, saying the early numbers left no path to victory. He reiterated his campaign’s goal of “getting back to basics,” focusing on core services, emergency deputies and fixing the jail crisis.
The contest pits Nirenberg, who was term‑limited as mayor in 2025 after eight years, against Von Dohlen, who previously ran three times for a City Council seat. Nirenberg defeated incumbent Judge Peter Sakai by a nearly 25‑point margin in the Democratic primary before facing Von Dohlen in the November 3 general election.
When sworn in on Jan. 1, Nirenberg will join a five‑person Commissioners Court that includes incumbents Justin Rodriguez (Precinct 2) and Tommy Calvert (Precinct 4), both appearing to be on track for re‑election. The court will confront a fiscal cliff, ongoing jail reforms, and large‑scale projects such as a new downtown arena and flood‑infrastructure upgrades.
What’s next: Nirenberg’s inauguration is set for Jan. 1, after which he and the Commissioners Court will begin the 2025‑2026 budget process. County officials say they will seek efficiencies between city and county services and look to state partners for additional resources as COVID‑19 relief and property‑tax revenues decline.
Sources: ksat.com, sanantonioreport.org
