San Antonio City Council to Vote on Censuring Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones

The vote follows a complaint filed by Councilwoman Sukh Kaur over a confrontation with the mayor.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The San Antonio City Council will vote on Friday whether to censure Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones following a complaint filed by Councilwoman Sukh Kaur over a confrontation that took place during a recent council meeting. The details of the complaint are expected to be made public when the meeting agenda is posted. A censure vote is a largely symbolic gesture that publicly rebukes an elected official's actions without removing any of their powers.

Why it matters

This vote highlights ongoing tensions within the San Antonio City Council and raises questions about the mayor's leadership style and her relationship with other council members. A censure could further strain the working dynamics of the council, which must collaborate to address important issues facing the city.

The details

The incident between Mayor Jones and Councilwoman Kaur reportedly occurred away from the council dais during a February 5th meeting and stemmed from an agenda item related to the Bonham Exchange, a historic LGBTQ+ bar, and fire sprinkler regulations. Kaur later filed a complaint under the city's code of conduct, and five councilwomen submitted a memo requesting a meeting to possibly censure Jones following an investigation into the complaint. The council met in a closed-door executive session on Monday to discuss the results of the investigation, but neither Kaur, Jones, nor Councilwoman Misty Spears attended.

  • The San Antonio City Council will vote on whether to censure Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones on Friday, February 28, 2026.
  • The incident between Mayor Jones and Councilwoman Kaur reportedly took place on February 5, 2026.

The players

Gina Ortiz Jones

The mayor of San Antonio who is facing a potential censure vote by the city council.

Sukh Kaur

A San Antonio city councilwoman who filed a complaint against Mayor Jones under the city's code of conduct.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez

The San Antonio city council member who served as mayor pro-tem during the closed-door meeting on Monday.

Joan Duckworth

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

Javier Guerra

An attorney representing the Bonham Exchange.

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What they’re saying

“Today's meeting was specifically about a complaint and a pattern of behavior that council members have identified. This has nothing to do with our support for the mayor or a lack of support for the mayor. I think we all want to work together. We all want what's best for the city.”

— Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, San Antonio City Council Member (KSAT)

“She put a lot of pressure on Joan, telling her people were going to die, firefighters could die, club patrons could die because of this, and 'you really need to limit the capacity and sign this consent agreement.'”

— Javier Guerra, Attorney for the Bonham Exchange (KSAT)

“So this has always, for me, been about making sure that that place is safe. And I think we got to a resolution that helps do that. And now I'm on the hook for helping to raise money, but I know the community will rally to make sure that the Bonham Exchange continues to operate for another 40 years, right?”

— Gina Ortiz Jones (KSAT)

What’s next

The details of Councilwoman Kaur's complaint are expected to become public once the meeting agenda is posted ahead of the Friday vote on censuring Mayor Jones.

The takeaway

This potential censure vote highlights the ongoing tensions and power dynamics within the San Antonio City Council, raising questions about the mayor's leadership style and her ability to work effectively with other council members. The outcome of the vote could have significant implications for the city's political landscape and the mayor's future.