09/06/2025
Congratulations to Gina Ortiz Jones on her historic victory as San Antonio's next mayor! As a former Under Secretary of the Air Force, Jones brings significant government experience to City Hall as she becomes the first openly gay leader of America's seventh-largest city. Her victory in Saturday's runoff election with 54% of the vote makes her the first Asian-American woman mayor of a major Texas city. "San Antonio showed up and showed out," Jones declared to her supporters on Saturday night, emphasizing that "our city is about compassion and it's about leading with everybody in mind. So I look forward to being a mayor for all."
Jones defeated Rolando Pablos, a close ally of conservative Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in a technically nonpartisan race that saw her advance from a crowded field of 27 candidates in May. Her priorities include tackling San Antonio's persistent poverty rate, which has remained near 20% since the 1980s. "I want to make sure that we are a city that is serving everybody," she stated, with plans focused on expanding early childhood education, increasing affordable housing, and creating work programs for unskilled workers.
Raised in San Antonio by her Filipino immigrant mother who worked as an educator, Jones left the city in 1999 after receiving an Air Force R.O.T.C. scholarship to attend Boston University. She continued her education by earning advanced degrees from the University of Kansas and the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies. In 2021, President Biden nominated her to serve as Under Secretary of the Air Force, the second-highest-ranking civilian position in the Air Force. Looking forward, Jones observed, "We are a city that wants to move forward with everybody in mind and really not be so divisive."
For an excellent book to introduce young readers to trailblazing women in politics, we highly recommend "A Woman in the House (and Senate)" for ages 9 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/a-woman-in-the-house-and-senate
For books for children about trailblazing female political leaders in the U.S. -- both historically and in modern times -- visit our blog post, “Remember the Ladies: 25 Children's Books on Women in Politics” at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11162
For books for children and teens about more pioneering Asian-American Mighty Girls, check out blog post "60 Mighty Girl Books for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=33613
And for books for children, teens, and their parents that promote acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ people, visit our blog post "True Colors: Mighty Girl Books for Pride Month" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12258
