San Antonio Mayor Faces Censure Vote After Alleged Confrontation with Councilwoman

City Council members are considering reprimanding Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones for a heated exchange with Councilwoman Sukh Kaur.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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City Council members in San Antonio are mulling whether to censure Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones after she allegedly yelled and cursed at Councilwoman Sukh Kaur in a private area of the Municipal Plaza Building during a City Council meeting. The incident was the latest in a series of confrontational behaviors by the mayor towards council members who have opposed her on high-profile votes. Council members are considering the censure as a way to express their disapproval of the mayor's actions and potentially force her to change how she treats her colleagues.

Why it matters

Censure votes are rare for mayors in San Antonio, and this incident highlights the growing tensions between the mayor and some members of the City Council. The dispute also comes as the council was set to vote on a controversial issue regarding the Bonham Exchange, a historic LGBTQ+ nightclub, where the mayor allegedly pressured the club's owners to comply with the city's demands.

The details

According to multiple City Hall sources, the incident occurred in a private area of the Municipal Plaza Building that is reserved for city staff, adjacent to the City Council Chambers where the meeting was underway. Councilwoman Kaur was pushing for a resolution that would have given the Bonham Exchange more time to install legally required fire sprinklers, but the mayor brokered a last-minute deal with the club's owners to comply with the city's demands. After the closed-door executive session, Kaur appeared shaken, and the club's general manager was also visibly upset at the conclusion of the meeting.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday, February 6, 2026 during a City Council meeting.
  • The Bonham Exchange had a deadline of October 1, 2023 to install the required fire sprinklers.

The players

Gina Ortiz Jones

The mayor of San Antonio who allegedly yelled and cursed at Councilwoman Sukh Kaur in a private area of the Municipal Plaza Building.

Sukh Kaur

A San Antonio City Council member who was pushing for a resolution to give the Bonham Exchange more time to install fire sprinklers.

Joan Duckworth

The general manager and co-owner of the Bonham Exchange, a historic LGBTQ+ nightclub in San Antonio.

R. Javier Guerra

The representative for the Bonham Exchange.

Andy Segovia

The San Antonio City Attorney.

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What they’re saying

“I believe the safety of our community and the fire code are non-negotiable. My other colleagues' proposal ignored the recommendations of our Fire Chief. This option would recklessly and needlessly endanger the lives of patrons, employees, and first responders.”

— Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor (expressnews.com)

“I think Joan may have taken it as somewhat threatening. My client is 68 years old, and she's trying to keep the Bonham going. She loves it there. I'd rather conversations like that happen with me as opposed to my client.”

— R. Javier Guerra, Representative for the Bonham Exchange (expressnews.com)

What’s next

The San Antonio City Council is expected to hold a vote on whether to censure Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones for her alleged confrontation with Councilwoman Sukh Kaur.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing tensions between San Antonio's mayor and some members of the City Council, as well as the mayor's confrontational leadership style. The potential censure vote could serve as a way for council members to express their disapproval and push the mayor to change her behavior towards her colleagues.