Bexar County judge candidates clash in fiery debate

Sakai and Nirenberg trade barbs over past policy fights in race for county's top job

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In a heated one-hour debate, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and Democratic primary challenger Ron Nirenberg, the former San Antonio mayor, traded accusations over past policy decisions and the role of the county judge position. The two leaders, who overlapped in top roles for the blue city and county, are now opponents in a high-stakes primary race where they've gone deep into the weeds on past disputes to differentiate themselves.

Why it matters

The debate highlighted the sharp divide between the two candidates as they vie for the powerful county judge position, which oversees the county's budget and operations. With few ideological differences, the race has turned into a battle over past records and leadership styles, underscoring the high stakes as the county faces major challenges like a court backlog and jail overcrowding.

The details

In the debate, Sakai distanced himself from the downtown development project known as Project Marvel, which he had previously supported, saying it didn't do enough for the East Side. Nirenberg, who was mayor during the closed-door negotiations, attacked Sakai for not involving the community enough. The candidates also clashed over issues like the controversial Guajolote Ranch development and the county's handling of the pandemic relief funds. Nirenberg, a former radio station manager, argued Sakai's experience as a district court judge wasn't enough for the county judge role, which he said requires strong leadership skills. Sakai fired back that Nirenberg lacked the legal expertise needed for the job.

  • The debate took place on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.
  • Early voting for the March 3 primary starts on February 17, 2026.

The players

Peter Sakai

The current Bexar County Judge and a longtime district court judge.

Ron Nirenberg

The former San Antonio mayor and Sakai's Democratic primary challenger for the county judge position.

Nelson Wolff

The former Bexar County Judge who had previously endorsed Sakai as his successor but is now backing Nirenberg in this race.

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What they’re saying

“We need to make sure that we're engaging the entire community, to make sure that they're envisioning and they have some self-determination in the efforts that are happening outside of the Freeman Coliseum grounds.”

— Ron Nirenberg, Mayoral Challenger (San Antonio Report)

“The issues that we're going to be debating today are the same ones that Peter promised to solve three and a half years ago. We are reacting to every issue in our community right now, from a case backlog that persists because of lack of prosecutorial resources in the courts, as well in the district attorney's office, to jail overcrowding issues that continue to be exacerbated.”

— Ron Nirenberg, Mayoral Challenger (San Antonio Report)

“I'm running to lead at a time when leadership is needed the most. We are facing extraordinary challenges in this community, but we have the resources and talent to move our community in significant ways with the right leadership at the top.”

— Ron Nirenberg, Mayoral Challenger (San Antonio Report)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.