Former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has announced his bid for Bexar County judge. Nirenberg seeks to unseat fellow Democrat and incumbent Judge Peter Sakai. Nirenberg runs on a platform he describes as “proactive,” juxtaposing the “reactive” nature of Sakai’s tenure. Nirenberg has been a vocal critic of Sakai, seeking to upset the current judge over disagreements on leadership and direction for Bexar County.
“I don’t think that that office is performing the way it should,” Nirenberg said in an interview with SA Report. “It’s been reactionary to major issues. And frankly, we need strong leadership.”
Despite the title, the county judge does not commonly preside over a traditional court. Instead, they are the presiding officer of the Bexar County Commissioners Court — the governing body of Bexar County. Essentially, the county judge is the mayor’s counterpart at the county level. The county judge oversees all departments of the county government, while fulfilling a plethora of other duties, like approving beer license applications, signing delayed birth certificates and performing wedding ceremonies.
Sakai was elected in November of 2022, and his term will expire on Jan. 1, 2027. During his bid for county judge and his tenure, Sakai has pursued a number of priorities centered on community engagement, public safety, economic development and infrastructure improvement. According to Bexar County, Sakai has worked to ensure collaboration between educational and workforce systems to promote economic success among the Bexar County youth. Additionally, Sakai has also increased available resources for law enforcement, strengthened economic bonds with neighboring counties and regions. The judge also focused on expanding infrastructure projects for county roads and bridges, as well as flood control and broadband infrastructure.
Nirenberg’s platform includes numerous similarities, including focuses on public safety, improving economic opportunities and improving transportation infrastructure. However, Nirenberg has placed an emphasis on finding regional solutions to the affordable housing crisis, implementing sustainable development and environmentally-conscious initiatives and strengthening healthcare access. As his campaign is in its infancy, specific policies and practices Nirenberg will employ to accomplish these goals remain largely unclear.
Both candidates boast extensive resumes that speak to their qualifications for the position. As the incumbent, Sakai has direct experience and accomplishments he can speak to support his case for reelection. Sakai also possesses an extensive legal background, serving as the Appellate Assistant D.A. in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office and the Associate Judge of the Children’s Court, while also operating a solo law practice.
While Nirenberg has little legal experience on his resume, his platform leans on the experience he gained as the longest-serving Mayor of San Antonio. Nirenberg seemed to be popular among his constituents, boasting a 56% approval rating according to polling conducted by UT San Antonio’s Center for Public Opinion Research.
The upcoming primary election for Bexar County Judge will be on March 3, 2026. Early voting will begin on Feb. 17 and will run until Feb. 27, 2026. The general election will take place on Nov. 5, 2026.
