There’s long been a tendency for City Council debate to focus less on substantive policy questions than on symbolic concerns, many of which reflect the country’s larger cultural and political fault lines. Credit: Shutterstock / JHVEPhoto

San Antonio City Council will retain its progressive dominance after Saturday’s runoff election.

Only one of the four contested districts, District 9, broke for the conservative candidate in the contest, leaving progressives with an eight-to-two majority on the dais. Here’s how the four races broke down:

District 1

Progressive incumbent Sukh Kaur, who narrowly missed winning a majority in May’s crowded general election, soundly defeated Patty Gibbons, the current president of the Greater Harmony Hills Neighborhood Association, in Saturday’s runoff. Kaur took 65% of the vote to Gibbons’ 35%.

During the general election, Kaur faced some criticism from small business owners for her handling of construction projects. However, she played a vital role in securing the low-income Robert E. Lee apartment building for the San Antonio Housing Trust Foundation, and is generally well-liked by constituents.

Meanwhile, conservative Gibbons ran on a platform of improving sidewalks, streets and drainage along with increased spending for police.

District 6
Ric Galvan, a former aide to District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo, won with 50.11% of the vote to labor organizer Kelly Ann Gonzalez’s 49.89%. Gonzalez trailed by just 25 votes.

Both ran progressive platforms and hoped to tackle problems including improving public education, community health and services for military veterans. Gonzalez had the endorsement of outgoing District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda.

District 8

Ivalis Meza Gonzalez also won 57% to opponent Paula McGee’s 43%.

Gonzalez served as outgoing Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s chief of staff and is the daughter of voting-rights activist “Choco” González Meza. She landed a raft of endorsements from local officials along with both the city’s police and fire unions.

McGee, an attorney, generally focused on city improvements and steered clear of culture war issues. Even so, she argued that residents wanted to see council remade in a more conservative mold.

District 9

Conservative Misty Spears defeated progressive Angi Taylor Aramburu 57%-43%. Spears will be the second conservative on City Council, joining District 10’s Marc Whyte.

“It’s looks like we’re going to have a strong ally in District 9,” Whyte told reporters gathered at Rolando Pablos’ watch party. “She’s going to be a great councilwoman and I’m thrilled that Misty is going to be joining me.”

Spears, who has an accounting degree, faced criticism over her personal finances, which included thousands of dollars in unpaid credit card bills and since-settled liens filed against her and her husband.

Aramburu, a business owner and arts-management consultant, previously ran an unsuccessful campaign to represent Texas House 122 as a Democrat.

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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2025.