Mayor - Texas Ballot Compare

City of Mission

Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked6-way race

Natalie 'Nati' GarzaNonpartisan

Juan GinesNonpartisan

Armando 'Doc' OcañaNonpartisan

Rick SalinasNonpartisan

Norie Gonzalez GarzaNonpartisan Incumbent

Ruben PlataNonpartisan

On ballot as

Natalie 'Nati' Garza

Juan Gines

Armando 'Doc' Ocaña

Rick Salinas

Norie Gonzalez Garza

Ruben Plata

Current role

Business owner

Mechanic and small business owner

Former mayor of Mission

Attorney

Mayor of Mission

Mission City Council member, Place 2, and mayor pro tem

Background

Not found

More than 40 years of experience as a mechanic and small business owner (per candidate)

Not found

Attorney with more than 30 years of experience (per The Monitor)
Son of former Mission Mayor Norberto "Beto" Salinas

Mission High School graduate (1977) (per city biography)
Bachelor of Science, Pan American University (1981)
Broker and owner, real estate brokerage (since 1991)
Lifelong Mission resident (per city biography)

Bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting, University of Texas-Pan American (per city biography)
Past president, Valley Bankers Association
Board member, Rotary Club of Mission
Mission's Man of the Year (2006)

Experience

Not found

Ran for mayor (2022); lost the runoff to Norie Gonzalez Garza
Mayor of Mission (2018–2022)
Sworn in June 2018 after defeating longtime Mayor Norberto "Beto" Salinas in a runoff
Mission City Council, Place 4 (before becoming mayor)

Not found

Elected mayor in 2022, defeating then-Mayor Armando "Doc" O'Caña in a runoff
First woman to serve as Mission's mayor
Mission City Council member (2007–May 2022)
Mayor pro tem (2012–2020)
Mission Consolidated ISD trustee (three terms, before joining the council)

Show all 8

Justice of the peace, Precinct 3 (interim) (per city biography)
Member, Mission Economic Development Corporation board (per city biography)
Vice chairman, Anzalduas Bridge board (per city biography)

Gave up his Place 2 seat, which ran to November 2028, to run for mayor
Announced his bid in July 2026
Mission City Council: first elected October 2007; reelected 2008, 2012 and 2016; unopposed 2020 and 2024
Has served as a member and chairman, Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce (per city biography)
Has served as a member and chairman, Mission Historical Museum (per city biography)
Has served as a member and chairman, United Way of South Texas (per city biography)

Top priorities

Not found

In a social media post quoted by The Monitor (Sept. 21, 2026), said his idea for the mayor's post is the same as in the shop: "find it, fix it, don't hide it"

On public safety, in an October 2026 Rio Grande Guardian interview: "In my model, we include also police, fire, EMS, the emergency operation coordinator, public works, and also wrecker service."
On the Madero-Mission rail bridge project, same interview: "I am willing to resurrect and begin to do the rail connection, the rail bridge with passenger and pedestrian crossings."
On an open-door policy at City Hall, same interview: "You don't need an appointment—you just walk in."

In his July 20, 2026 campaign announcement: "Protecting true affordability for our residents starts with fiscal responsibility"
Same announcement: "It is time to bring complete transparency to City Hall and restore trust in our government."
On the city's firefighters union agreement, at a Sept. 8, 2026 council meeting: "Do not allow politics to come into play."

On affordability, in an August 2026 Texas Border Business interview: "The key to that is having better-paying jobs"
On the Taylor Road expansion, same interview: "It's going to be many, many years. I want to be here to at least get it started."
On drainage, same interview: "What I'm most proud of is our collaboration with Mission CISD."

In his July 13, 2026 announcement: "My primary focus is to ensure that our city continues to grow, thrive, and prosper"
Same announcement: "I am committed to strengthening our local economy, enhancing our quality of life, and fostering economic resilience and long-term prosperity for all who call Mission home."
Same announcement: "I am committed to listening to every voice, leading with accountability, and always putting the best interests of Mission first."

Tidbits

Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found

Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found

Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: On the Madero-Mission rail bridge project, in an October 2026 interview: "I am willing to resurrect and begin to do the rail connection, the rail bridge with passenger and pedestrian crossings."
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: In an October 2026 interview: "In my model, we include also police, fire, EMS, the emergency operation coordinator, public works, and also wrecker service."

Property taxes and budget: In his July 20, 2026 campaign announcement: "Protecting true affordability for our residents starts with fiscal responsibility"
Growth and infrastructure: In a July 2026 interview: "Let's go back to the heart of Mission, rebuild downtown, and give people a sense of hope."
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: On the city's agreement with the firefighters union, at a Sept. 8, 2026 council meeting: "The problem that I have with this one particular union is that they’re trying to dictate to the city what to do"

Property taxes and budget: In an August 2026 interview: "I know there’s a perception out there that the City of Mission is broke, but that’s simply not true. We’re doing well."
Growth and infrastructure: On the Taylor Road expansion, in an August 2026 interview: "It’s going to be many, many years. I want to be here to at least get it started."
Flooding and drainage: On joint drainage projects with the school district, in an August 2026 interview: "What I’m most proud of is our collaboration with Mission CISD."
Public safety: No public statement found

Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: In his July 13, 2026 announcement: "My primary focus is to ensure that our city continues to grow, thrive, and prosper"
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found

Endorsements

None found in our research

Campaign website

Not found

Natalie 'Nati' Garza

Nonpartisan

On ballot as: Natalie 'Nati' Garza
Current role: Business owner
Background: Not found
Experience: Not found
Top priorities: Not found
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Juan Gines

Nonpartisan

On ballot as: Juan Gines
Current role: Mechanic and small business owner
Background: More than 40 years of experience as a mechanic and small business owner (per candidate)
Experience: Not found
Top priorities: In a social media post quoted by The Monitor (Sept. 21, 2026), said his idea for the mayor's post is the same as in the shop: "find it, fix it, don't hide it"
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Armando 'Doc' Ocaña

Nonpartisan

On ballot as: Armando 'Doc' Ocaña
Current role: Former mayor of Mission
Background: Not found
Experience: Ran for mayor (2022); lost the runoff to Norie Gonzalez Garza
Mayor of Mission (2018–2022)
Sworn in June 2018 after defeating longtime Mayor Norberto "Beto" Salinas in a runoff
Mission City Council, Place 4 (before becoming mayor)
Top priorities: On public safety, in an October 2026 Rio Grande Guardian interview: "In my model, we include also police, fire, EMS, the emergency operation coordinator, public works, and also wrecker service."
On the Madero-Mission rail bridge project, same interview: "I am willing to resurrect and begin to do the rail connection, the rail bridge with passenger and pedestrian crossings."
On an open-door policy at City Hall, same interview: "You don't need an appointment—you just walk in."
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: On the Madero-Mission rail bridge project, in an October 2026 interview: "I am willing to resurrect and begin to do the rail connection, the rail bridge with passenger and pedestrian crossings."
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: In an October 2026 interview: "In my model, we include also police, fire, EMS, the emergency operation coordinator, public works, and also wrecker service."
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Rick Salinas

Nonpartisan

On ballot as: Rick Salinas
Current role: Attorney
Background: Attorney with more than 30 years of experience (per The Monitor)
Son of former Mission Mayor Norberto "Beto" Salinas
Experience: Not found
Top priorities: In his July 20, 2026 campaign announcement: "Protecting true affordability for our residents starts with fiscal responsibility"
Same announcement: "It is time to bring complete transparency to City Hall and restore trust in our government."
On the city's firefighters union agreement, at a Sept. 8, 2026 council meeting: "Do not allow politics to come into play."
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: In his July 20, 2026 campaign announcement: "Protecting true affordability for our residents starts with fiscal responsibility"
Growth and infrastructure: In a July 2026 interview: "Let's go back to the heart of Mission, rebuild downtown, and give people a sense of hope."
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: On the city's agreement with the firefighters union, at a Sept. 8, 2026 council meeting: "The problem that I have with this one particular union is that they’re trying to dictate to the city what to do"
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Norie Gonzalez Garza

Nonpartisan Incumbent

On ballot as: Norie Gonzalez Garza
Current role: Mayor of Mission
Background: Mission High School graduate (1977) (per city biography)
Bachelor of Science, Pan American University (1981)
Broker and owner, real estate brokerage (since 1991)
Lifelong Mission resident (per city biography)
Experience: Elected mayor in 2022, defeating then-Mayor Armando "Doc" O'Caña in a runoff
First woman to serve as Mission's mayor
Mission City Council member (2007–May 2022)
Mayor pro tem (2012–2020)
Mission Consolidated ISD trustee (three terms, before joining the council)
Show all 8
Justice of the peace, Precinct 3 (interim) (per city biography)
Member, Mission Economic Development Corporation board (per city biography)
Vice chairman, Anzalduas Bridge board (per city biography)
Top priorities: On affordability, in an August 2026 Texas Border Business interview: "The key to that is having better-paying jobs"
On the Taylor Road expansion, same interview: "It's going to be many, many years. I want to be here to at least get it started."
On drainage, same interview: "What I'm most proud of is our collaboration with Mission CISD."
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: In an August 2026 interview: "I know there’s a perception out there that the City of Mission is broke, but that’s simply not true. We’re doing well."
Growth and infrastructure: On the Taylor Road expansion, in an August 2026 interview: "It’s going to be many, many years. I want to be here to at least get it started."
Flooding and drainage: On joint drainage projects with the school district, in an August 2026 interview: "What I’m most proud of is our collaboration with Mission CISD."
Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Ruben Plata

Nonpartisan

On ballot as: Ruben Plata
Current role: Mission City Council member, Place 2, and mayor pro tem
Background: Bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting, University of Texas-Pan American (per city biography)
Past president, Valley Bankers Association
Board member, Rotary Club of Mission
Mission's Man of the Year (2006)
Experience: Gave up his Place 2 seat, which ran to November 2028, to run for mayor
Announced his bid in July 2026
Mission City Council: first elected October 2007; reelected 2008, 2012 and 2016; unopposed 2020 and 2024
Has served as a member and chairman, Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce (per city biography)
Has served as a member and chairman, Mission Historical Museum (per city biography)
Has served as a member and chairman, United Way of South Texas (per city biography)
Top priorities: In his July 13, 2026 announcement: "My primary focus is to ensure that our city continues to grow, thrive, and prosper"
Same announcement: "I am committed to strengthening our local economy, enhancing our quality of life, and fostering economic resilience and long-term prosperity for all who call Mission home."
Same announcement: "I am committed to listening to every voice, leading with accountability, and always putting the best interests of Mission first."
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
Growth and infrastructure: In his July 13, 2026 announcement: "My primary focus is to ensure that our city continues to grow, thrive, and prosper"
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Open in the full comparison: Hidalgo County