Rolando Pablos has amassed the biggest war chest so far, buoyed by big donations. But a competitor is outpacing him for individual donations.
SAN ANTONIO — Two people with statewide name recognition have raised the most money thus far in the San Antonio mayoral race, outpacing some current and former City Council members by several magnitudes.
Former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos, who resigned from that statewide post in 2018, collected nearly $153,000 in campaign contributions over the final six months of 2024, according to campaign finance reports filed Wednesday evening. Gina Ortiz Jones, the former congressional candidate, raised a little less than Pablos, taking in just under $139,000. That total includes a $6,777.71 sum from her PAC.
Beto Altamirano, the South Texas native and tech entrepreneur who now lives in the Alamo City is running third with almost $133,000 raised.
Pablos’ team called his fundraising success thus far “a powerful testament to the strength of the campaign and the overwhelming community support behind Pablos’ vision for a better San Antonio.” On Facebook, he wrote he was “humbled by the tremendous momentum.”
The fundraising totals drop off steeply behind Altamirano. Current City Council members Manny Pelaez ($63,717), Adriana Rocha Garcia ($29,016.90) and Melissa Cabello Havrda ($20,365) have smaller war chests, with former District 10 representative Clayton Perry raising just $2,200.
The remaining handful of candidates who reported accepting contributions gathered a total of $5,410.67.
While Pablos has raised the most money, Ortiz Jones boasted the most individuals supporting her, with more than 320 individual contributors compared to 189 for her competitor. Pablos had by far the most individual contributions of $1,000 or more – 136 – while Ortiz Jones saw a near-even split between major and minor donors.
The former congressional candidate accrued 90 contributions of at least $1,000 and 94 of $50 or less. Pablos, by comparison, can’t say he has as much of a grassroots campaign; his campaign reported just three contributions of $50 or less. One of those is Pablos himself.
Pablos saw an average individual contribution of $800.55. The next highest among major fundraisers: Pelaez, with an average contribution of $612.66.
Voters head to the polls on May 3.