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Former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg will be on the November ballot as the Democratic nominee for Bexar County judge after defeating incumbent Peter Sakai in Tuesday’s primary.
As of 8:27 p.m., with early voting totals reported, Nirenberg had 62% of the vote compared with Sakai’s 38%, according to results from the Bexar County Elections Department.
The result unseats a first-term incumbent in one of the most powerful elected positions in local government.
The Bexar County judge is the county’s top elected official and presides over the Commissioners Court, which oversees county government.
Nirenberg, who has never lost an election, will face Republican nominee Patrick Von Dohlen this fall. Von Dohlen ran unopposed for the nomination.
“We didn't just win a primary,” Nirenberg told the crowd at his victory party. “We committed to fixing a broken justice system. We resolved that everyone should have access to quality health care regardless of their zip code, and we agree that no one should have to choose between a roof over their head and food on the table.”
Sakai, a longtime judge and former prosecutor, was elected Bexar County judge in 2022 and took office the following year. During his tenure, county leaders debated major development proposals, including a new Spurs arena and downtown sports district, while also addressing flood control investments, public safety initiatives, food insecurity during the federal government shutdown, and ongoing discussions about jail capacity and criminal justice reforms.
Those issues formed part of the backdrop for this year’s primary contest. Democratic turnout outpaced Republican turnout in the 2026 primary, particularly during early voting in Bexar County, which traditionally leans Democratic. The Democratic ballot in Bexar County and across Texas featured several high-profile contests, including races for U.S. Senate and governor.
Given the county’s voting history, Nirenberg’s chances of securing the win later this year are high.
Nirenberg is one of the longest serving mayors in San Antonio’s history. The city charter limits mayors to eight years in office. Nirenberg served from 2017 until last year.
If elected in November, Nirenberg would follow a familiar path in local politics. Former San Antonio Mayor Nelson Wolff later served as Bexar County judge from 2001 to 2022 after serving as mayor from 1991 to 1995. Bryan V. Callaghan Jr. also held both offices at the turn of the 20th century.
During his time in office, Nirenberg oversaw the city’s response to the pandemic and championed the Ready to Work program, which trains residents for new careers using revenue from a voter-approved sales tax passed in 2020.
Nirenberg’s challenge to Sakai surprised some political observers. While the two had worked together on regional issues and shared similar views on a number of policies — including criticism of recent ICE raids in San Antonio — the primary ultimately pitted the two Democrats against each other.
When Sakai leaves office on Jan 1, 2027, it’s not likely he will run for any office again. But he said he will have a new key issue to focus on. "I'm not a career politician...I mean this is probably the last job that I will do,” he said. “And…well I get to go take care of grandkids."
